Why this is important

Lindstrom says the liver plays a critical role in our metabolism.

“It helps process nutrients, break down fats and medications and detox alcohol. It’s also important in regulating blood sugar and cholesterol,” she explains.

Fatty liver, where healthy cells turn into fatty cells that can’t do their job as well, is a common problem with the organ. It impacts around one in three people and is the top reason for women having liver transplants in the United States, Lindstrom says. Excessive alcohol use, hepatitis C, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and insulin resistance can all contribute to fatty liver.

“The troubling thing with fatty liver is that most of the time, people don’t have symptoms,” Lindstrom warns. Unchecked fatty liver could lead to liver scarring, liver failure and even death.

Learn more

Read more about gastrointestinal health on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

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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

Though not one of the most common cancers, Marcie Lindstrom, APRN, says she’s seen liver cancer cases rise in recent years in line with national trends. Luckily, the gastroenterology provider at OSF HealthCare says treatment has evolved, too. And it’s another reminder to know your body and see your health care provider regularly because liver cancer is more treatable when caught early.

The liver: A recap

A primer on what the liver does for us: Lindstrom says the liver sits underneath the right ribcage and cleans toxins from our blood, helps digestion and produces proteins needed to live. In other words, it’s not an organ you can live without like a gallbladder or one kidney.

Liver cancer: Hidden and harmful

Lindstrom says primary liver cancer describes when the cancer starts there, and secondary liver cancer is when it spreads there (medical term: metastasizes), most commonly from the lungs, breasts or colon. Secondary is more common than primary.

“There are multiple causes of liver cancer. A person is at a higher risk if they have a damaged liver,” Lindstrom says. “Things that can cause a damaged liver include alcohol. So heavy alcohol use [is a risk]. Viruses that can infect the liver such as hepatitis B and C [are risks]. And we’re seeing an increasing number of people having fatty liver disease. That puts people at risk for liver damage. That damage can progress to cirrhosis [scarring], and cirrhosis puts you at a higher risk.”

These liver issues can be fatal if untreated. And unfortunately, Lindstrom says liver cancer often comes with no symptoms.

Diagnosis and treatment

That’s where regular visits to your primary care provider, and if needed, a specialist like a gastroenterologist or oncologist come in.

Lindstrom says your provider will go over your risk factors: do you have a family history of liver issues? What’s your own health history, specifically with hepatitis? How often do you drink alcohol? What’s your daily diet and exercise routine?

“If we determine somebody has a lot of scarring of the liver, they should be on regular surveillance looking for liver cancer,” Lindstrom urges. “Every six months, they should get some imaging and possibly a blood test that helps to detect cancer.” The person could also have a biopsy of their liver, where a provider will take a sample of liver tissue and send it to a laboratory to find out exactly what’s wrong.

Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy and liver transplant surgery are possible treatments.

“A liver transplant could be required if the tumor isn’t very large, but there’s a lot of damage or scarring of the liver,” Lindstrom explains.

Prevention

Lindstrom says if it’s caught early, liver cancer can be treated and even cured. Some things to keep in mind to avoid the disease:

• Eat a healthy diet, avoiding things like processed food, high sugar food and high fat food that can lead to liver issues.
   
• Get moving to avoid things like obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol. The American Heart Association says to aim for 150 minutes of exercise per week spread out over several days.
   
• If you do develop chronic conditions like diabetes, see your provider regularly to stay on top of managing the issue.
   
• Know your family history of liver and other health issues.
   
• Limit alcohol or avoid it altogether.
   
• There’s no vaccine for hepatitis C, but there is treatment. There is a vaccine for hepatitis B. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the shots are safe, effective and have a schedule. Talk to a provider to see if you’re on schedule or if you need a shot now, for example if you’re at high risk.
   
• Take other steps to avoid hepatitis: practice safe sexual relations, avoid blood-to-blood contact with others and don’t share or reuse needles.
  
  “You have a history of blood transfusions prior to 1992. You got a tattoo or piercing in a less than sanitary situation,” Lindstrom lists as other hepatitis risk factors. “I’d recommend getting screened. In fact, it’s a current recommendation to be screened for hepatitis C at least once in adulthood.”
  
  Lindstrom says providers list 1992 as a hepatitis C benchmark because that’s when blood screenings were developed.

Learn more

Read more about how to keep your digestive system healthy on the OSF HealthCare website. Cancer care at OSF HealthCare also includes the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute in Peoria, Illinois, which provides comprehensive care for the region.

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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

There’s renewed optimism for people with fatty liver disease, sometimes called NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) or MASH (metabolic associated steatohepatitis). The United States Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first medication, Rezdiffra, that can directly address liver damage as the person makes lifestyle changes.

“This is a gamechanger for anyone who has fatty liver disease with moderate to severe liver scarring,” says Marcie Lindstrom, APRN, a gastroenterology provider at OSF HealthCare. “This can reduce the number of complications that can develop with worsening scarring.”

Fatty liver basics

The liver is an important organ. Experts even call it a miniature factory inside us. The liver detoxifies medication; releases glucose to give you energy; aids digestion and makes cholesterol, proteins and amino acids.

Obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and excessive alcohol use can lead to fatty liver disease, which Lindstrom says impacts around one in four people worldwide. Left untreated, scarring from fatty liver disease can progress to cirrhosis, or severe scarring. Complications from cirrhosis can include enlarged blood vessels in the esophagus which can lead to life-threatening bleeding, fluid overload called ascites, liver cancer and liver failure necessitating a transplant.

How we got here, where we’re going

Lindstrom says before Rezdiffra, people with fatty liver disease could only make those lifestyle changes to try to get better: control your blood sugar, cholesterol and weight.

“Strictly on the shoulders of the individual,” Lindstrom reiterates.

“We know that people who lose 5 to 10% of their body weight are able to make improvement with fatty liver disease. It is considered a reversible condition,” she adds.

Now, Rezdiffra is an option for people with moderate to advanced scarring.

“It works on thyroid-B receptors in the liver. We normally think of thyroid receptors in our thyroid gland [in our throat], but we do have thyroid beta receptors elsewhere. A lot of them are in the liver,” Lindstrom explains. “The medication works to release triglycerides from the liver. It improves and may even resolve fatty liver.”

It’s a once-a-day pill, Lindstrom says, and there’s no “one size fits all” for how long you need to be on it. Side effects include nausea and diarrhea, but Lindstrom says studies have shown those get better after three weeks. She also says women who are pregnant, are about to become pregnant or are breastfeeding should not take Rezdiffra. There hasn’t been enough study of the drug to see how it impacts those groups.

The bottom line: you can talk to your health care provider to see if Rezdiffra is right for you. Be sure to mention what other medicines you are taking so your provider can see how Rezdiffra might interact.

“If somebody is taking a statin for cholesterol levels,” for example, Lindstrom says. “It’s not that we want them to go off their statin. There are certain limitations to the dosage.”

Learn more

Learn more about how to avoid fatty liver disease and other gastroenterology care tips on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

The United States Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first treatment for people with liver scarring due to fatty liver disease. It's welcome news for people battling the disease.

How did we get here?

In some ways, it goes back to the obesity epidemic in the United States. Obesity brings an increased risk of fatty liver disease, an ailment that’s treatable but could mean serious complications. Moreover, health experts say isolation during the pandemic led may to increase alcohol intake, another risk factor for fatty liver.

David Rzepczynski, MD, a gastroenterologist at OSF HealthCare, describes the liver as an “extremely important” factory for the body. It performs many functions, like detoxifying medications, aiding digestion and making cholesterol, proteins and amino acids that help the body function. And have you ever missed a meal? You can thank your liver for releasing glucose and giving you energy.

All those “factory functions” make it critical to be watchful of fatty liver disease. As the name suggests, the disease describes an accumulation of fatty cells in the liver. Dr. Rzepczynski says it takes just 5% of cells with increased fat to make a diagnosis, but some obese people have 100% of cells with fat.

Hepatitis C and excessive alcohol use can cause fatty liver disease or are at least linked to it. But you can still get fatty liver if you’re not a heavy drinker, and that’s where your weight comes into play.

“The big driving force of fatty liver disease is what we call the metabolic syndrome,” Dr. Rzepczynski explains. “There are five factors: obesity, diabetes, hypertension [high blood pressure], high cholesterol and insulin resistance.”

Dr. Rzepczynski adds that fatty liver disease may cause pain in the upper abdomen, but it mostly comes without symptoms. So if any of those five risk factors apply to you or if you’re a heavy drinker, don’t wait. Talk to your health care provider about getting your liver looked at.

A doctor will likely start with a blood test, Dr. Rzepczynski says. An ultrasound or biopsy may also be needed. The next step: lose weight.

“It doesn’t have to be getting back to your ideal body weight,” Dr. Rzepczynski says. “Losing 5% of your weight can reduce fat in the liver. Losing 7% will help reverse some of the inflammation associated with fatty liver. And some studies have even shown that losing 10% or more might reverse some of the scarring.”

While it may be a bit alarming, left unchecked, fatty liver disease can lead to a serious condition called cirrhosis, or scarring, of the liver.

“You have normal liver tissue replaced by scar tissue,” Dr. Rzepczynski says. “When that occurs, you have a loss of liver function. You have less liver cells performing their duties.”

Cirrhosis of the liver can cause the organ to fail, making a transplant necessary. Liver issues can also mean an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer, particularly breast and colon cancer.

Learn more about fatty liver disease and other gastroenterology care on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Terminology

David Rzepczynski, MD, an OSF HealthCare gastroenterologist, says it’s important to first lay out some similar sounding terminology.

• Diverticulum (singular) or diverticula (plural): These are the bulges that form when an inner part of the colon sticks out through a weak spot in the colon wall.
   
• Diverticulosis: This is the name of the condition when the bulges occur.
   
• Diverticulitis: This describes when the bulges become inflamed.

Causes, symptoms and diagnosis

Dr. Rzepczynski says diverticulosis occurs when your colon is trying to push stool forward, and the organ is not as bulky as it should be. The diverticula bulges then form.

The condition has been more common in people over 60, but Dr. Rzepczynski says health care providers are seeing a rise in cases in people in their 40s and 50s.

Diverticulosis can run in families. It’s also tied to your lifestyle.

“A diet that has more red meat, less grain and less fiber might put you at a higher risk,” Dr. Rzepczynski says.

Smoking, excess alcohol and obesity are also risk factors.

Symptoms of diverticulosis include abdominal pain or constipation. But it often comes with no symptoms and is found during a colonoscopy.

Treatment

Dr. Rzepczynski says in mild cases, a provider may tell you to change your lifestyle, such as getting more fiber in your diet. This makes bowel movements smoother.

“Often, people will look to use fiber supplements,” Dr. Rzepczynski says. “The amount of fiber intake from supplements pales in comparison to what you can get from your diet.”

Also, eat a healthier diet overall. Dr. Rzepczynski says there used to be a myth that nuts, popcorn and seeds would get lodged in the colon bulges. He says studies have shown those foods are not a risk factor.

Other lifestyle tips: exercise and cut out tobacco and alcohol.

Dr. Rzepczynski says more serious cases of diverticulosis can come with two complications. One is bleeding.

“You could have a blood vessel on the outside of the diverticulum. If it ruptures into the diverticulum, it could cause sudden bleeding from the rectum,” Dr. Rzepczynski says.

Dr. Rzepczynski says bleeding from diverticulosis is not common. He ballparks it at around one in 2,000 cases. People on blood thinning medication who develop diverticulosis have a higher risk of bleeding.

While unpleasant, Dr. Rzepczynski says most bleeding cases resolve on their own.

The second, more serious complication is diverticulitis, or when the diverticula bulges become inflamed. This happens when there is a tear in the diverticulum, and bacteria from stool leaks. And it can lead to a host of other problems: pockets of pus known as abscesses, issues passing stool and a urinary tract infection.

Symptoms of diverticulitis include pain in the lower left abdominal area, abnormal bowel movements, nausea and vomiting. If you have these symptoms, it’s important to been seen by a health care provider quickly. A doctor may order a computed tomography scan (commonly called a CT scan) to diagnose diverticulitis.

Dr. Rzepczynski says it’s not common for diverticulosis to progress to diverticulitis, and most cases of diverticulitis can be treated at home with oral medication. But, he says 12 to 15% of diverticulitis patients spend time at the hospital. Treatments there include antibiotic medication through intravenous therapy (IV) and surgery. If surgery is necessary, a doctor will drain any abscesses then remove the inflamed area of the colon.

“They’ll try to reconnect the colon at that time,” Dr. Rzepczynski explains. “But if the surgery is done on an emergency basis, sometimes the person may have a colostomy where part of the colon is coming out through the skin. That’s a temporary measure.”

A colostomy comes with a bag on the outside of your body that collects the waste that would normally leave your body via a bowel movement.

Dr. Rzepczynski warns that surgery isn’t a permanent fix. He says around 15% of diverticulitis patients who have surgery end up with another bout. It reinforces the importance of lifestyle changes. You should also get on a colonoscopy schedule as advised by your health care provider.

Learn more

Read more about how to avoid diverticulosis on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

Recent reports from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are again raising awareness of hepatitis C.

A 2022 report found “too few people diagnosed with hepatitis C are being treated, despite availability of medications capable of curing this viral infection.” Specifically, the agency estimates fewer than one in three people with health insurance are getting direct-acting antiviral treatment for the infection within a year of diagnosis. A June 2023 study published by the CDC also examined gaps in access to treatment, building on the 2022 findings.

The statistics resonate with Marcie Lindstrom, a gastroenterology advanced practice provider at OSF HealthCare.

“If we go back 10 or 15 years, hepatitis C treatment was really difficult,” Lindstrom notes as a possible reason for the hesitancy. “Treatment lasted a year or a year and a half. It required an injection. People really felt bad during treatment.”

Conversely: “Treatment today is so easy. It’s completed in as little as eight weeks. It’s a pill. No more injections,” Lindstrom says.

The basics

Lindstrom says hepatitis – whether A, B, C, D or E – describes inflammation of the liver. She says hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus, and doctors over the years have settled on some common ways it spreads:

• A blood transfusion prior to 1992. Prior to that time, screening blood donors for diseases was not reliable.
• A tattoo or piercing at a place that’s not regulated
• Men who have unprotected sexual relations with men
• People who use illegal drugs, either through a needle injection or snorting through the nose

“Often people are at parties and sharing a straw or dollar bill to ingest. There are a lot of blood capillaries inside the nose. Those can break open,” and blood can spread, Lindstrom says.

Lindstrom calls hepatitis C a silent ailment due to a lack of symptoms.

“Many people can have hepatitis C for decades before they become aware of it,” she says.

Even worse, when a person does have symptoms, they may be vague and tough to distinguish from everyday problems. Fatigue and body aches are common complaints.

Often, Lindstrom says a provider discovers hepatitis C after a person comes in for some routine bloodwork. The bloodwork may come back showing elevated liver enzymes, and a test specifically for hepatitis – also a simple blood test – would then be done.

But if you have any hepatitis C risk factors, you should talk to your health care provider about when you need to be screened. A provider may recommend a screening once a year. And generally, federal guidelines say all adults should be screened for hepatitis C once in their life, and all pregnant women should be tested during each pregnancy. Ask your provider about it when you’re younger rather than older, Lindstrom pleads.

Why it’s important

Untreated hepatitis C can lead to liver scarring known as cirrhosis. That means fewer cells doing their daily functions, which, in turn, can lead to liver failure, liver cancer and even death.

“That’s why treatment is important. We don’t want people to progress to getting cirrhosis,” Lindstrom says. “If they take their eight to 12 weeks of treatment and don’t have a lot of scarring, we have a high success rate in clearing the virus – 98 to 100%.”

Learn more

Read more about gastroenterology care on the OSF HealthCare website.

Interview clips

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This collaboration will better serve patients in the community by bringing exceptional medical and surgical specialties closer to home. The affiliation combines a commitment to exceptional care and an expanded, comprehensive network of expert specialty and subspecialty physicians for patients in the area.

The latest collaboration will see Ameera Nauman, MD, a pediatrician at OSF Saint Anthony’s, move into the SSM Health network while continuing to see patients at the OSF Medical Group office in Godfrey. The Godfrey office offers primary care for adults as well as pediatric care. Dr. Nauman will have access to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, a world-class facility in St. Louis, for emergency and specialty care, such as advanced pediatric diagnostic testing, surgical services and sports care.

“I’m excited to be part of this collaboration that will allow my patients greater access to timely and exceptional care from pediatric specialists who are at the top of their field,” said Dr. Nauman. “Parents can know all of their child’s medical needs are in the hands of well-equipped, premier health professionals.”

“Hospital and health care providers can no longer operate in silos and must be willing to embrace meaningful collaboration that will result in availability of high quality, sustainable health care across their communities,” said Jerry Rumph, president of OSF Saint Anthony’s. “Dr. Nauman will be supported by pediatric specialists in areas including cardiology, oncology, neurology and gastroenterology. This team will have access to the NICU [Neonatal Intensive Care Unit] and a Level I [One] Pediatric Trauma Center at Cardinal Glennon Hospital, where providers are equipped to handle the most complicated and complex cases.”

Jeremy Fotheringham, region president of SSM Health St. Louis and Academics, said, “This collaboration will allow us to better meet the needs of this community while providing value and convenience to our patients. By working together, we further our Mission and Vision to ensure all people have access to the high-quality, personalized care they need.”

OSF Saint Anthony’s and SSM Health are excited about the new affiliation and are currently developing additional opportunities to bring more medical specialties to the greater Riverbend community to enhance and improve the health and wellness of residents. In April, the health systems announced enhanced heart care close to home through the addition of Sridhar Kumar, MD, a cardiologist at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, who became chief of Cardiology Services at OSF Saint Anthony’s.

B-Roll