South Denver Gastroenterology PC

This medical group should be barred from practicing medicine. South Denver Gastroenterology, P.C. does not have sufficient staff to answer its telephone calls and it does not coordinate with your insurance company to verify that a procedure will be covered by your insurance. I waited 6 plus weeks to meet with Dr. Lawrence S. Kim and when I met with him he did not completely review my medical file or the lab tests the medical group ordered. On top of that, I had another lab test scheduled and the medical group called the facility and canceled the test without my permission.

After being shuffled around by my primary care doctor, I was referred here. I originally was seen at the Parker office, but now have also been seen at Sky Ridge. The patient interface is awesome… appointment reminders and confirmations, online patient portal, and complete transparency in tests they order or don’t order and why. When I called for my original appointment, after hearing how much pain I was in, they did everything they could to get me in quickly. My only complaint is that I feel like I really established a good relationship with the PA I was seeing, and then she left for an undetermined amount of time. However, the PA I am seeing currently is just as on top of things and really took time to listen and review things with me. I also saw Dr. Powers when I had to go in for my endoscopy procedure and he was very nice and really helped calm me down as I was incredibly nervous (which I laugh at now. it was a very quick, simple experience). The adjacent endoscopy center (Ridge View Endoscopy Center) is also great… they were very nice, professional, straightforward and calmed me down before my procedure. Having to go to the GI doctor this much kind of sucks, but it is nice to finally have some answers and feel like I am on a road to feeling better.

Never again.
I had no issues with the nurse practitioner who saw me and scheduled my upper and lower GIs, but after going to their assembly-​line facility and ending up so sick that their on-​call physician referred me to Swedish ER — and staying violently sick more than 24 hours later — I’m done. I can’t even get a straight answer from their doctors involving what happened. They’re more concerned about covering their own derrieres than helping me determine why I ended up doubled over in pain and unable to keep anything down until the following night — even with meds given through both an IV and with pills. I’m so upset about my treatment, I won’t even be doing my follow-​up there.

Dr. Nichols is the best Dr I have ever worked with. I have had UC for the last five years. Three years ago I was in the hospital with symptoms so severe that my GI Doc at the time told my wife it was the worst she had ever seen and a colectomy was the only option. I wanted a second opinion and saw Dr Nichols. Within 6 weeks he had my symptoms under control and I have not had another flare since.

I tried to get in earlier for an colonoscopy/​endoscopy, and they denied my appointment because the doctor refused to only give me partial sedation. These folks don’t care how you feel. You would be much better taking your business to doctors who will actually try to help you.

My procedure was at their location in Swedish MC on Hampton. I had an colonoscopy. And the next day one of the three pulps removed started bleeding. SDG wouldn’t see me but told me to go to the ER where after 5 Hours and a couple more people up my rear end and got a $ 17,000.00 bill. BE WARNED!!! The original procedure cost $ 15,000.00 (YA, $ 15,000.00) never again will I get a colonoscopy. Cancer is better than paying their jacked up cost and botched work to make SMC $$$$$$!!

I chose South Denver Gastroenterology (Englewood) because I noticed it received great reviews and the practice I previously went to only got 3 out of 5 stars. Dr. Fairbanks was everything you want in a gastroenterologist – warm, professional, thorough and very accommodating! This is a very busy place yet each person I interfaced with introduced themselves with a first name and a warm smile – this is INVALUABLE. Almost no wait time in upon arrival, and from there on it was a well-​oiled machine. I chose no anesthesia for my colonoscopy, which I wasn’t sure would be honored but it was, and as such, Dr. Fairbanks paid special attention to my comfort throughout the procedure. My last colonoscopy was much quicker, so I’m certain she was much more thorough which is just what you want! My procedure time was 10:30 and I walked out at 11:10. Everyone from start to finish was just delightful.

Most unprofessional and gold plated medical establishment I have ever had to deal with.
Referred by personal Doctor for Upper and Lower GI for family history of esophagus cancer, issues with passing blood, and prior polyp removal. Scheduled and went for initial appointment. Was shocked that I ended up seeing a Nurse Practitioner instead of a Doctor.
NP’s constantly argued points my Dr. made about having procedure, kept saying «I don’t think you need the procedure, NP’s professional manner was abysmal. Twenty minutes to get my blood pressure taken and have a NP portray themselves with more experience and education than a Dr, argue what my Dr. orders and get a bill for $ 365.00!
Make appointment for procedure against my better judgment and the calls from the business office begin. I have ⁹⁰⁄₁₀ Health Insurance with a $ 1,500 co-​pay and an automatic $ 750 HSA payment to reduce the co-​pay.
Business office states «we expect copay» up front. Irritated with this call prior to procedure especially since I have pretty much a «gold plate» health care plan. Then, a few days later another call, from a business office that is the «facility» that there will be another $ 1,700.00 expected to be paid by me before the procedure! First charge was for Dr, second was for the «facility! Blind sided to say the least when you assume the costs for everything was included in the first business office call.
So, do the math. ⁹⁰⁄₁₀ Health Care policy, $ 1,500.00 yearly co-​pay, and an automatic $ 750.00 HSA kick in!
Unprofessional, unreasonable and unrealistic costs for Denver. Ask you Dr. for options and shop around.

Each of of medical offices I have been to at Sky Ridge Medical Center seem significantly nicer than what you would expect, or regularly encounter elsewhere. The offices for South Denver Gastroenterology are no exception to this. Even though they seemed slammed with patients on the morning that I went (I guess a lot of folks scheduled procedures for Valentine’s Day), they still got me in quickly. I think the fact that they seem very organized played a role in this. When I first made the appointment, they explained everything in advance. They were very good about mailing out all medical forms and very direct about telling you to fill them out before you come. It seems to work, because I was only waiting a few minutes in the lobby before I was was directed to the back. The Doctor that I met with was quite friendly. He was easy to work with, efficient, and thorough. My appointment did not take that long and he had me meet with his assistant to schedule all the next steps. I have not had a follow-​up as yet, but I believe it will be similarly well done.

Yes, I was referred back and with much reluctancy I went. I called and told the woman who answered of my past experience, and I told her I was referred too a specific doctor I needed to see. I would only see him. She was so excellent and accommodating! She got me in with this specialist within a week, which is unheard of. It was pretty incredible.
The doctor was thorough, looked through my records, and told me the truth about my options. It was awesome. Total redemption! I would just advise you to see a doctor rather than a nurse practitioner. It might have been that particular nurse practitioner, my experience this time was great! He was no nonsense! It was sweet!

This group works like a team and shows care and compassion beyond what I’ve come to expect from many specialists. I gave them the most stars, not because they were perfect but because they really seem committed to continuous improvement.