Digestive health usually gets attention only when something goes wrong. But the truth is, good digestive health is built quietly, through small daily habits repeated consistently over time.

As we recognize World Digestive Health Day this month (May 29), it’s worth stepping back from the trends, supplements, and internet “gut hacks” to focus on what actually works.

Omar Khokhar, MD, a gastroenterologist at OSF HealthCare, says your digestive system is remarkably resilient and if you support it well, it often returns the favor for decades.

One way to avoid digestive issues and inflammation, Dr. Khokhar says, is to avoid eating convenience or ultra processed food.

Avoid ultra processed food

“So for me, ultra processed food is something that comes out of a wrapper, out of a box, out of a can. It’s something that was made in a factory 300 miles away, two months ago that you now see in your local grocery store. So, there is a convenience factor, but we're starting to see that we're paying for that convenience because those foods are difficult to digest and they can result in inflammatory changes to your gut.” 

Dr. Khokhar notes that while genetics can influence the risk of conditions such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and digestive cancers, daily habits still play a major role in long-term gut health. He says research now shows that when the lining of your gut is disrupted, it can have negative impacts.

“So, the more that we don't do on a daily basis, whether it's fiber, having good bowel movement, making sure we keep a good microbiome, that may result over time in disruption of the mucosal or lining of your stomach and your intestine,” he says.

When that happens, Dr. Khokhar points out, the body will absorb things it shouldn’t, and it won’t be getting what nutrients it should be getting.

If you can only do two things to improve your gut health, Dr. Khokhar says adopt these two habits.

“Flush the pipes. Make sure you drink enough water. Make sure you get enough fiber – whether that’s in diet, whether that’s a supplement, it really doesn’t matter to me at this point. If you get enough fiber and you flush your pipes and you’re evacuating your G.I. tract, it’s going to help remove the waste product.” He adds, “Once you remove the waste product from the colon, everything else can flow down.” 

For fiber, Dr. Khokhar says focus on foods found around the perimeter of the grocery store, including fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.

Walk after meals

One other good habit to consider – taking a walk after meals. Dr. Khokhar advises even short walks can improve digestion and reduce discomfort.

“After you eat, go for an eight-to-10-minute walk. The activity helps everything, literally from a gravity point of view, a physical point of view, a gas expulsion point of view.” He adds, “It almost helps you reset and recalibrate before you inevitably in our society – we sit back down.” 

A final point from Dr. Khokhar – do not to ignore persistent abdominal pain or major changes in bowel habits. He warns those symptoms can sometimes signal more serious conditions, including colon cancer.

Dr. Khokhar is a gastroenterologist practicing at OSF HealthCare in Bloomington, Illinois.

Clips with Dr. Omar Khokhar 

B-roll-World Digestive Health Day

A new study is challenging long-held assumptions about coffee’s effects on digestive health, suggesting the popular beverage could offer benefits for both the gut and the brain.

The research, published in Nature Communications, examined 62 participants, half of whom were regular coffee drinkers, to explore how coffee consumption influences the gut microbiome and mental well-being. Using psychological assessments alongside dietary tracking and biological samples, researchers found that individuals who drank coffee, whether caffeinated or decaffeinated, reported lower levels of stress, depression and impulsivity.

The findings point to a growing scientific consensus: coffee is more than just a caffeine delivery system. According to the study’s authors, it acts as a complex dietary component that interacts with gut bacteria, metabolism and even emotional health.

Researchers also observed higher levels of beneficial bacteria among coffee drinkers, including strains linked to protection against harmful microbes and inflammation. Caffeinated coffee, in particular, was associated with reduced anxiety, improved attention and lower markers of inflammation.

Still, OSF HealthCare gastroenterologist Omar Khokhar, MD, cautions against drawing sweeping conclusions.

Kinds of coffee could make a difference

Dr. Khokhar points out it’s a small study that supports a hypothesis, but it’s not definitive proof that coffee will improve gut health or mood.

“There are so many different kinds of coffee. There’s Turkish coffee, there’s South American coffee, there’s Dunkin Donuts coffee, there’s Folger’s and Sanka for some of the people watching this on Facebook.” He points out, “It just comes down to each person and their own individual microbiome and how it responds to whatever particular type of coffee they’re ingesting.” 

Instead, Dr. Khokhar believes the study contributes to a broader shift in how scientists understand nutrition. Rather than labeling foods as strictly “good” or “bad,” researchers are increasingly focusing on individual responses, particularly how a person’s unique gut microbiome influences their reaction to what they consume.

Coffee itself is chemically complex, containing compounds such as polyphenols, which Dr. Khokhar says might act to feed beneficial gut bacteria.

“Now let’s suppose you’re at baseline and you have overall good gut hygiene and function; coffee could potentially be a good thing. It could be a prebiotic of sorts, that could potentially support your microbiome in that case.” 

This could help explain the observed microbiome changes in coffee drinkers.

However, those same compounds can have downsides. Coffee is known to relax the lower esophageal sphincter, potentially triggering heartburn, and Dr. Khokhar stresses coffee exacerbates symptoms in people with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.

The study did not differentiate between types of coffee, such as espresso versus brewed coffee, highlighting another limitation and an area for future research.

More research is needed

Dr. Khokhar says the study shows a link but not a direct cause and he thinks more controlled studies are needed to determine how specific varieties and preparation methods influence health outcomes.

“What I would like to see personally is if you controlled for what specific coffee a group of volunteers ingested and then either through blood or stool, looking at their exact gut microbiome diversification or pattern to see if that improved or how that changed from a robustness and a diversity point of view,” he says. “That would be more objective.” 

The research also raises intriguing questions about the gut-brain connection. Scientists now understand that the gut microbiome plays a role in producing neurotransmitters like serotonin, which can influence mood, sleep and behavior.

Whether coffee can enhance mood indirectly by improving gut health remains a hypothesis but an appealing one for millions of daily coffee drinkers.

For now, the takeaway is about embracing moderation and self-awareness. As Dr. Khokhar puts it bluntly, “If it makes you feel bad, don’t do it.” But he says if people can tolerate coffee well, in moderation, it might not be as harmful as once thought and could even be helpful, but more research is needed to prove that.

If you have questions about what's best for their health, talk to your primary care provider. 

Video clips with Dr. Omar Khokhar

B-roll-Coffee and gut microbiome

An OSF HealthCare gastroenterologist says recent research strongly supports the case that the brain and the digestive system are closely connected through one key communication pathway: the vagus nerve.

The vagus nerve, the longest in the nervous system, acts as a biological “superhighway,” carrying messages between the brain, stomach, intestines and other vital organs. Researchers say this pathway is crucial for regulating digestion, inflammation and even mood.

Omar Khokhar, MD, a gastroenterologist at OSF HealthCare, says at first, researchers thought the brain impacted gut health. But now, they know a person’s gut bacteria – known as the gut microbiome – can influence mental health as well. So, it’s a two-way connection, and when the vagus nerve is functioning well, it helps keep digestion steady, reduces inflammation and supports a stable stress response.

How do you know when the gut microbiome becomes imbalanced? Dr. Khokhar says it can show with bloating, pain or irregular bowel habits.

“The best way to sort of self-assess if you have a good, healthy gut microbiome is how many bowel movements you’re having. Are they robust, big bowel movements? This is what we’re looking for,” Dr. Khokhar explains. (He holds up an example of at least a six-inch-long plush toy as an example) “That’s what we want from everybody. Also, the gas you pass. Everyone knows the difference between the gas that actually feels good – like decompressive – versus the gas that is not satisfying.”

Reduce stress before eating

Chronic stress, poor sleep or traumatic experiences can reduce vagal tone – the nerve’s ability to send calming signals – which might worsen gut conditions like irritable bowel syndrome. Dr. Khokhar says the vagus nerve can be distracted to respond to the brain too often in states of chronic stress or anxiety, ignoring the role it needs to play in digestion.

“There’s no question there’s a correlation between mental health and optimal efficiency or efficacy of your GI tract. Whether that’s motility, hormone secretion or digestion, it all ties in together,” he stresses. “That’s why it’s really important to address that.”

Holidays can be exciting but also a stressful time. So, Dr. Khokhar believes some deep breathing, especially before and after a big holiday meal, can help to reset the vagus nerve and improve how it works.

“Kind of like you restart your phone or computer. It’s a very similar concept. Let’s clean it out. Let’s do some deep breathing for five or 10 minutes. It’s all it takes. Then the vagus nerve says, ‘OK, I’m more relaxed here. I can then do my job, which is to secrete hormones, to squeeze and to help with the GI tract.’”

Early evidence suggests deep breathing, meditation, regular exercise and even humming or singing might stimulate the nerve and help restore balance. What kind of breathing exercises does he recommend? Dr. Khokhar says the diaphragm should be engaged by using a 4-4-4 technique.

“Four seconds in, four seconds hold and four seconds out. Navy SEALs have mastered this when it comes to sleep and other regulation. I think they have a 4-6-7 where you inhale four seconds, hold for six seconds and then exhale for seven seconds. Personally, I have a hard time exhaling because you have to time your exhale. You can’t just blow out that.” (needs to occur slowly).

Scientists caution that much of the research is still emerging, but they agree the vagus nerve is a promising target for future treatments. For now, Dr. Khokhar says deep breathing, staying hydrated and getting into the habit of walking or moving after a meal are all good approaches to help improve digestion.

Dr. Omar Khokhar

B-roll-Deep breathing for healthy digestion

OSF HealthCare gastroenterologist Omar Khokhar, MD, says it’s a homemade drink that includes a few main ingredients.

“It’s oranges, coconut water and salt. It can be derivatives of each one of those ingredients but that’s sort of the nuts and bolts of it. The thought process is that each one of those ingredients helps with the electrolyte balance in your body once you ingest this mocktail.”

The drink is designed to promote development of cortisol, a stress hormone that influences several systems in the body.

“Cortisol is one of many chemicals produced by a small gland on top of your kidney called the adrenal gland. And so, cortisol plays a key role in metabolism, immune function, blood-sugar metabolism and so any disruption in your cortisol metabolism can have a downstream effect in other parts of your body leading to potential health issues.”

The drink claims to help with something influencers have labeled “adrenal fatigue” and weight loss by increasing cortisol. But here’s the catch — Dr. Khokhar says the science doesn’t back it up.

“Adrenal fatigue has been debunked in 2016 by a meta-analysis, and it is not a true condition. The other pertinent point that people should know is that taking a cortisol mocktail does not in any way shape or form alter your cortisol levels. It has no impact on producing more cortisol or reducing cortisol levels in any way.”

There is a condition known as adrenal insufficiency, which is a serious medical condition in which the adrenal glands fail to produce enough cortisol. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, low blood sugar and extreme fatigue. Dr. Khokhar says if you experience these symptoms, see a doctor right away.

If you want to improve cortisol levels in a meaningful way, Dr. Khokhar suggests other approaches.

“There are things that are much more data-driven that can help with that. That includes getting seven or eight hours of sleep. That includes reducing your stress through meditation or other practices.” He also suggests, “That includes eating a healthy diet. Those are things that are maybe more difficult to do but they’ve been shown to improve cortisol levels, whether they’re high or low.” (

Dr. Khokhar says a cortisol cocktail as its being touted likely won’t harm you if you don’t have an underlying condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure that could be impacted by a sugary, salty drink.

On its own, he says coconut water has health benefits because it has electrolytes and hydrating properties. So, it can help with rehydration, especially after exercise or illness, and could also support heart health, blood sugar management, and digestive health. 

Additionally, coconut water and orange juice are a good source of Vitamin C and other antioxidants so benefits worth sipping, even if cortisol isn’t part of the picture. 

Dr. Omar Khokhar

B-roll-Cortisol Cocktail

TikTok is full of videos from influencers and others touting the benefits of various juice cleanses. For better or worse, the share of adults who regularly get news from TikTok has grown about fivefold since 2020 and for adults under 30, nearly 40% get their news on the social media platform.

So, there are a lot of people who could be convinced to do a juice cleanse from their exposure to those messages. Is that a bad thing? A juice cleanse involves consuming only fruit and vegetable juices for between three and seven days. OSF HealthCare gastroenterologist Omar Khokhar, MD, says the research isn't there yet for him to recommend tackling a juice cleanse to reset your gut health.

One of the biggest claims you hear on Tik Tok is that a juice cleanse can remove toxins from your body. Dr. Khokhar says there’s no data to support that.

“I don't know of any data that shows that a juice cleanse will preemptively remove toxins. That being said, if you reduce the amount of overall chemicals or ingredients that you're ingesting, you may have less toxins going in and thereby being metabolized and then excreted.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that some detox/cleansing products may contain illegal or potentially harmful ingredients, are marketed using false health claims, and could be harmful for people with some health conditions, such as diabetes. They also rarely lead to permanent weight loss.

Instead of a juice cleanse, Dr. Khokhar says the best approach to improving gut health is to improve what you’re ingesting every day.

“Eat on the outside of the grocery store. We talk about produce, meat, seafood, and if you can tolerate it, dairy. The other way to look at it is – and I do this very frequently in our clinic for patients who have heartburn, diarrhea, constipation – I'll tell them, ‘Give me three days. Don't eat anything out of a wrapper, box, or a can.’”

Eat more fiber

Most people need more soluble and insoluble fiber in their diet. Soluble fiber is found in apples, bananas, oats, peas, beans, avocados, and citrus fruits. Insoluble fiber is in whole wheat flour, bran, nuts, seeds, and the skins of many fruits and vegetables. Dr. Khokhar says both are critical to improving digestive health.

“The trick with the GI tract is to keep things moving. When things stagnate, that's when your GI gut microbiome can replicate in the wrong way. It's when you get constipation, and you get diverticulosis, and you get bloating. So, it's all about keeping things moving.”

While some juices have antioxidants which can help protect cells from damage, reduce inflammation, and lower the risk of chronic diseases, they are also high in sugar and some, including grapefruit juice, can have a bad interaction or interfere with absorption of certain medications. So, Dr. Khokhar says it’s really important to consult your primary care provider before starting any cleanse. He also recommends limiting a juice cleanse to 72 hours.

Drink more water

Staying hydrated can also go a long way in keeping your intestinal tract healthy. Dr. Khokhar also says the body has its own system of flushing the digestive system. He explains there is something called a migrating motor complex, or MMC for short, that creates a soft tidal wave through your GI tract every two to three hours.

“That's because it's important to replenish and recycle bacteria in the gut microbiome that often, and so if you change what you're putting into your system, it will affect the composition of that system,” Dr. Khokhar stresses.

Whether that’s a good or bad influence and what that means for our health is unclear and Dr. Khokhar suggests that’s the next exciting frontier of GI research. However, Dr. Khokhar returns to his theme that focusing on putting less processed food into your body on a regular basis will go a longer way than a juice cleanse to improve your gut microbiome and reduce gastrointestinal issues.    

Dr. Omar Khokhar

B-roll for Juice cleanse

As we begin a new year at OSF HealthCare, we’re reflecting on 2024 and the major strides in digital transformation to make access to care and health information seamless for our patients. At OSF, we continue to collaborate with our academic and business partners to leverage collective expertise and to responsibly use the power of artificial intelligence, always taking care to use guiding principles of what is fair, appropriate, valid, effective and safe (FAVES).

The efforts are highlighted here in our Top 10 Digital Health and Innovation stories of 2024 in no particular order.

1. OSF Unveils new 55+ primary care service in south suburban Chicago: Called OSF Complete Care 55+, this is a unique collaboration between OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center and OSF OnCall, the digital arm of the health care Ministry. When launched in early 2025, this primary care program will incorporate in-person visits, plus a mix of virtual care, digital health monitoring tools and 24/7 access to a care team focusing on those with chronic conditions.

2. Building an AI prepared workforce: OSF HealthCare leaders took just six weeks to develop mandatory training about generative AI for all 24,000 OSF Mission Partners (employees) because tools were already publicly available. Melissa Knuth, Vice President of Planning, outlines that to rise to the challenge, she worked with OSF Innovation to use mixed media to keep the content interesting and tapped generative AI tools to assist with the content creation.

3. OSF Digital Hospital patients in Rockford area say it’s the best medicine: OSF OnCall expands its digital hospital program to Rockford and receives rave reviews from some of its first patients. In addition, a well-known farm broadcaster shares her story about receiving acute-level care from the comfort of her own home and urges others who are eligible to consider the option.

4. OSF Innovation sets the table for solution to prevent cancelled surgeries: Two OSF HealthCare nurses turned to the OSF Innovation Studio team to help improve their Device Table software that serves as a database for implanted medical devices – offering information needed for surgical teams to reference for safety in surgery planning. We also reported on the creation of a spin-off company, OpenSurg, which will license and promote widespread sales of Device Table and related support features.

5. OSF HealthCare experts: ‘Establish guiding principles when developing digital care strategy’: OSF OnCall was a spotlight vendor and presenter at this year’s American Telemedicine Association’s annual Nexus conference in Phoenix, Arizona. OSF OnCall Senior Vice President Jennifer Junis advised during her presentation that health systems use guiding principles when developing their approach to digital health and to involve clinicians and patients when piloting new programs and digital tools. OSF HealthCare has also become a founding member of an ATA Digital Center of Excellence.

6. Mapping the future for early diagnosis of rare diseases: A Jump ARCHES grant-funded project with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is using generative AI and knowledge graphs that map symptoms to detect rare diseases. Adam Cross, MD, who leads the OSF Children's Innovation Lab in Peoria, Illinois, wants to create a point-of-care tool for primary care providers to help patients get an early diagnosis of a rare disease.

7. Health economist: Connectivity and trust can expand telehealth: OSF OnCall hosted its first-ever digital health symposium which drew nearly 150 clinicians and vendors. Keynote speaker health economist and advisor Jane Sarasohn-Kahn stressed evidence-based digital technologies can improve health outcomes, but health systems need to build trust and expand community partnerships to increase engagements.

8. Fast-Tracking Hope: Rapid Intake at the OSF Cancer Institute: OSF HealthCare began 2024 with the opening of its new comprehensive Cancer Institute, offering advanced radiation therapy such as brachytherapy and proton beam therapy.  It also launched a new rapid intake system, developed by OSF OnCall and OSF Innovation to offer a single point of contact through OSF-HOPE (844- 673-4467) so cancer patients can be immediately connected to treatment and support services.

9. Piloting a smarter colonoscopy: OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center piloted artificial intelligence-backed colonoscopies, using a company called GI Genius, to improve detection of precancerous polyps. During the pilot, the adenoma detection rate (ADR) averages increased among all patients involved to as high as 12%, while individual physician ADR increased as high as 32.8%. The technology is now being implemented across the OSF Ministry.

10. Testing the path to better concussion diagnosis: An OSF Innovation lab-designed FlightPath app is now being tested by athletes at Illinois State, Bradley and Illinois Wesleyan Universities. The app only takes about two minutes to collect more than a million data points as a person tries to catch a hummingbird within a 3D space on a screen. The clinical trial could last two years. 

There have been numerous studies suggesting gut health is linked to brain health and can influence the development of diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Now, there’s research results that specifically advance the idea that a person’s gut microbiome and damage to the upper gastrointestinal tract significantly increase a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

The study points out Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects 8.5 million people worldwide based on 2019 estimates. The number of cases has more than doubled over the past three decades. It is considered the fastest growing neurodegenerative disorder globally, even surpassing Alzheimer’s, according to the World Health Organization.

Omar Khokhar, MD, a gastroenterologist with OSF HealthCare suggests there’s a strong connection between damage to the lining of your gastrointestinal tract and the impact of damage on the rest of the body.

“There's this whole theory about absorbing things we shouldn't be absorbing, leading to systemic inflammation. And in this case with Parkinson's, is it neuroinflammation? Is it absorption of things you shouldn't be eating quickly or eventually, over time, could potentially accumulate in the brain to cause Parkinson's?”

The research involved more than 9,300 people who had a scope of their upper gastrointestinal tract, including their esophagus, stomach or upper part of the small intestine that required a biopsy. The study showed those whose mucosal lining was damaged had a 76% greater risk of developing Parkinson’s disease during the follow-up period – an average of 14.9 years for the group.

It has been a long-held belief that Parkinson’s disease has its origins in the brain, but now researchers see growing evidence it might begin in the gut. The latest study shows a strong correlation but doesn’t definitely link problems with the gut lining as a cause of Parkinson’s. However, Dr. Khokhar says it appears that gut health makes a big difference.

“If your gut lining is intact and strong, it will absorb what you should absorb for adequate nutrition, digestion and healthy living and not absorb what you shouldn’t be absorbing.”

According to the study, a protein called alpha-synuclein found in the gut can travel to the brain and form clumps called Lewy bodies, which are a hallmark of Parkinson's.

As he glances at a screen with research results, Dr. Khokhar says he looks forward to a day when a person’s microbiome health could be evaluated through a blood or breath test, and then specific prebiotics or probiotics could be ordered to address deficiencies, much like what’s done today with vitamins.

“Once we can get to this point where we can look at ‘this is what you’re eating and what you’re eating is resulting in these different changes and levels of your specific microbiota,’ that’s where it gets really, really groundbreaking.”

But, that type of precision medicine could be five to 10 years away. So until then, what’s the best approach? Dr. Khokar says it’s important for anyone with gastrointestinal issues to improve their diet and be diligent about following up with regular check-ups. In fact, with increasing evidence that what we eat can impact gut and brain health, Dr. Khokhar says it’s time for everyone to start paying more attention to what they eat.

“I challenge everyone who eats a granola bar or who eats a bag of Doritos or whatever the case may be. If I can’t tell you and the scientists can’t tell you what ingredients six through 22 are, should you really be putting that in our mouth? Or is there a trade off or is there a cost to that?”

What about prebiotics and probiotics? Should people be taking them to keep a healthy gut? Dr. Khokhar advises a better approach is to get those nutrients through food by regularly eating things such as Greek yogurt, kefir (milk or non-dairy based milk such as soy, coconut and water), sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, miso, tamari (soy), kombucha, sour cream, cottage cheese and aged cheese.

If those are too challenging to include in your diet, Dr. Khokhar says to talk with your medical provider. If you feel better after taking prebiotics or probiotics, then go for it.

Video with Dr. Omar Khokhar

It was nearly 25 years ago that television news anchor Katie Couric, whose husband died of colon cancer, helped raise public awareness of colorectal cancer by undergoing a colonoscopy that was shown on NBC’s “The Today Show.” 

Shelli Dankoff, manager of Media Relations & Multimedia Services for OSF HealthCare, is taking a page from Couric. With a family history of appendiceal and abdominal cancer, Dankoff was excited to learn OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, Illinois is piloting use of GI Genius – an FDA-approved Medtronic software platform with integrated AI algorithms. The platform has already shown an increase detection of precancerous polyps since the pilot launched April 1.

The GI Genius platform sits alongside the endoscope used to traverse the folds of the 5 feet of the average person’s colon. Omar Khokhar, MD, a gastroenterologist championed the idea of trying the new technology to reduce his patients’ risk of colorectal cancer, particularly at a time when new cases of colorectal cancer in people under the age 50 have been rising at an alarming rate. 

Dr. Khokhar says the pilot will consider whether to use GI Genius, not only for screening colonoscopies, but for colonoscopies when patients have symptoms indicating possible colorectal cancer. 

“For example, there's a 35-year-old who comes in with diarrhea or constipation or rectal bleeding, and I do that colonoscopy, I'll often tell my staff to turn it (GI Genius) on, to make sure we're not missing anything. So eventually, depending on the data, it could become the standard of care.” 

What exactly does the AI do? Dr. Khokhar says it leverages what it has learned from examining images and results from a large database of polyps from previous colonoscopies. 

“The GI Genius goes through its AI library of images and will highlight any kind of abnormalities of the mucosal surface. And it will call attention to us to go look at that again. Sometimes it might be something, sometimes it might not be anything, but it's a useful additional tool that we can use during colonoscopies to find precancerous lesions.” 

Dankoff is excited that Dr. Khokhar is among physicians willing to test the benefits of AI. She compares it to the use of robotics for certain surgeries. 

“It's kind of like when you hear people talking about robotic surgery or robots operating. No, that's not what it is. The surgeon is still controlling it. This is that same thing; you still have your gastroenterologist on the other end. They still have to know what they're looking at. It is a tool to help and to give better information, which I would think is reassuring to them too.”  

Known for his use of humor and analogies to help patients understand sometimes complex medical terms or conditions, Dr. Khokhar likens GI Genius to the type of technology on today’s new automobiles with sensors around the car to provide lane assist and adaptive braking.

“It’s like you have multiple eyes looking at the surface of the colon. Ultimately the gastroenterologist decides whether to sample, examine and inspect that area with more focus and then determine if that’s something that needs to be removed or not.” 

During Dankoff’s own colonoscopy, Dr. Khokhar reviewed two polyps highlighted by GI Genius and opted to remove them.  He said that’s not unusual, and he was not concerned based on their characteristics. The subsequent tissue biopsy came back benign and Dankoff won’t need to be re-screened for 10 years. 

Knowledge is power

Knowing new technology can support her doctor’s decision gives Dankoff peace of mind.

“I would rather know something up front sooner rather than later. Because we tell people all the time, if you catch it and treat it, it's very treatable. And if I'm not willing to be the person who's going to walk the walk and talk the talk, I have no business doing what I'm doing.” 

Dr. Khokhar will be working with a Performance Improvement (PI) team at OSF Innovation to analyze data from the six-month pilot with GI Genius. The team will evaluate two metrics: The adenoma detection rate (percent of screening colonoscopies where an adenoma is found) and the post-colonoscopy cancer rate.  While not cancerous, adenomas can turn into a cancerous tumor.

The data will be tracked in patients’ electronic medical records. GI Genius does not record patient data. 

PI experts will look at the data to see if the technology is really performing as promised, whether it is an improvement over the previous adenoma detection rate without the AI-backing, and whether it is worth the investment using those metrics. Vice President for Performance Improvement, Kelly George stresses that provider experience is important.

“GI Genius is a non-patient facing tool, so it is imperative to create a feedback loop to understand the experience of the physicians who are using it and monitor the data to identify any iterative changes that need to be made during the pilot.”

OSF consistently explores innovations that don't pose a risk yet could improve patient outcomes in its drive to provide the highest quality care.

Dr. Khokhar applauds the unique approach at OSF HealthCare that includes a willingness to partner with physicians who have ideas to better support clinical care and patients’ experience. 

“They’re the ones who are going to look back and do the math and look at, ‘Was this worthwhile?’ and they have a fantastic team. They're the ones who (are) really nuts and bolts on the ground who took this from, ’Hey, this is a really cool idea that I saw somewhere’ to ‘How do we make this fit a square peg into a square hole?’  

Dankoff thinks having the latest advanced technology could also help recruit new gastroenterologists and she believes it’s something that could attract patients, like her, to have more confidence in results of a colonoscopy – considered the gold standard for cancer detection and prevention.  

“If I could cut down on the number of screenings and have a greater sense of security that they really got to see everything in there. I think it'll be great.”  

Video clips of Dr. Omar Khokhar

Video clips of Shelli Dankoff

B -roll of GI Genius backed colonoscopy