Women's Health Care Center

At GI Care Center, our mission is to continuously improve the health of our patients and the personal service we render to both them and the medical community through teamwork and compassionate care.

Our Women’s Health team understands that women’s physiology is different from men’s. For this reason, we have created the Women’s Health Care Center, offering the collaborative expertise of a team of both male and female gastroenterologists and other health professionals to assure that patients receive immediate care when necessary.  Our team treats patients with a variety of digestive disorders that occur during every stage of a woman’s life, including menopause and pregnancy.

Our Commitment

Our team of board-certified physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nutritionists combine their clinical expertise and experience to provide patients with a unique setting dedicated to the care of women.

We believe that it is important to create a comfortable environment where patients can express their concerns in an unrushed setting. This allows us to understand individual needs and provide our patients with the best care possible.

Conditions Treated

Our highly-skilled gastroenterologists treat the majority of digestive disorders with which women struggle.

We treat the following conditions:

• Abdominal pain syndromes
• Bloating and gas
• Chronic constipation/diarrhea
•  Colon cancer detection- 3rd most common cancer in women.
• Crohn's Disease
• Defecatory Dysfunction
• Gallbladder Disease
• Gallstones
• Heartburn/GERD
• Hemorrhoids
• Incontinence
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Liver diseases
• Nausea
• Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NFLD)
• Pregnancy-related digestive concerns
• Postpartum Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
• Rectal bleeding

Benefits

Our team understands the needs of female patients; therefore, we will provide regular educational programs in the form of lectures, support groups, newsletters, websites, and patient portals specially designed for Women’s Health Care Center patients.  In addition, our research division will provide patients the opportunity to access new medications and treatment options.

Research

Since 1996 we have been conducting pharmaceutical trials at phases I-IV. We pride ourselves on accuracy, integrity, and quality data. Our extensive research allows us to have the latest medications available for patients.

Colon Cancer Screening 

Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States, with approximately 50,000 deaths and 150,000 new cases each year. Screening refers to the periodic evaluation of a patient who has no symptoms. Colon cancer screening is designed to detect and remove polyps and can detect colon cancer before it becomes symptomatic. We offer and recommend sedation to our patients during the colonoscopy.  Women should undergo colon cancer screening beginning at age 50. African American women should begin colon cancer screening at age 45.

Hemorrhoid Treatment

The CRH-O’Regan rubber band ligation system treats internal hemorrhoids in an office setting, without surgery, pain, or discomfort. Patients can return to work immediately after the procedure, which takes about 30 seconds to perform. Rubber band ligation is the most commonly used procedure to treat hemorrhoids and is the method of choice for both patients and doctors.

In-Office Infusion

GI Care Center currently offers REMICADE^® infusion to patients with Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s Disease, and Rheumatoid and Dermatologic conditions. Our Care Coordinators provide a seamless approach to working with pharmaceutical and insurance companies in order to facilitate the process and lessen the financial burden on patients.

Treatment with REMICADE^® is provided by a board-certified nurse and takes about two hours to complete. Patients can take advantage of the time to relax and bring in their MP3 players, portable DVD players, work on their laptops via Wi-Fi, read a book, or simply relax.

Capsule Endoscopy

Our specially trained physicians perform PillCam ™ Capsule Endoscopy on patients to examine their small intestines. The patient ingests a video capsule that has its own camera and light source. While the video capsule travels through the body, it sends images to a data recorder that the patient wears. The information is downloaded onto the computer and the physician then reads the exam.

Diagnostic Imaging

On-site diagnostic imaging is available for your convenience.

·         Ultrasound: imaging method that uses high frequency sound waves to produce precise images of internal body structures.

·         CT scan- a noninvasive diagnostic imaging test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. It combines special x-ray equipment with sophisticated computers to produce multiple images of the inside of the body.

Endoscopy Center 

Galloway Endoscopy Center, located in our facility, is fully accredited by the AAAHC and was one of the first centers to receive special accreditation from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Our board -certified physicians and highly trained staff perform over 16,000 endoscopies and colonoscopies each year.

Medical Nutrition Therapy

GI Care Center’s Nutrition Counseling Service provides the guidance of a Registered Dietitian (RD) to help patients meet a variety of medical nutritional needs.  A dietitian provides one-on-one instruction and counseling about lifestyle changes associated with food and can assist patients in managing gastrointestinal nutritional related conditions through medical nutrition therapy.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

GI Care Center physicians provide education and guidance in conjunction with PFD specialists.  Postpartum Pelvic Floor Dysfunction refers specifically to the post-pregnancy onset of a group of clinical conditions that include fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, sensory and emptying abnormalities, as well as defecatory dysfunction.  

The most common condition encountered by gastroenterologists is fecal incontinence or the loss of regular control of the bowels.  Over 5 million Americans suffer from incontinence, and women are 8 times more likely to be affected.

The GI Women’s Health Care Center seeks to diagnose and treat these conditions.  Diagnostic tests can include colonoscopy, anorectal manometry and ultrasound, pelvic MRI and defecography.   Once a diagnosis is made, a treatment plan can then be developed.  The treatment plan may include educational classes, Kegel exercise education or physiotherapy, nutritional therapy, medication, and when deemed necessary, referral for surgery.

Stefania Vernace, M.D

Womens Care Center- Director

Stefania Vernace, M.D. is Director of the Women’s Health Care Center and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at Florida International University. She is also a member of the Baptist Hospital Endoscopy Committee.

Dr. Vernace received her medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. She completed her internship at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, and returned to Mount Sinai Hospital for the residency. She then proceeded to obtain her fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at The New York Presbyterian Hospital and Weill-Cornell Medical College, where she had extensive training in Colonoscopy and Endoscopic Ultrasound. She is board-certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine.

While at The New York Presbyterian Hospital and Weill-Cornell Medical College, Dr. Vernace developed a passion for women’s gastrointestinal health.   She became an advocate for colorectal cancer screening, detection and treatment.  She has now developed the Women’s Health Care Center to provide integrated health care for women with special attention to their gastrointestinal health.