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Mar 14, 2026
Gastroenterology (GI) remains one of the most in-demand specialties in healthcare, driven by an aging population, increased screening recommendations, and rising rates of digestive health conditions. As demand grows, healthcare systems are adapting how and where GI care is delivered.
Today, many gastroenterologists are seeing shifts in practice settings, support models, and call expectations. Hospitals and Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) are both playing important roles in care delivery, and evolving staffing strategies are helping providers maintain efficiency while managing patient volumes.
Understanding these changes can help GI physicians and advanced practice providers make more informed career decisions while helping facilities ensure consistent patient access.
Over the past decade, Ambulatory Surgery Centers have become an increasingly common setting for GI procedures. Many routine procedures—such as colonoscopies and endoscopies—are well suited to outpatient environments, making ASCs an efficient option for both patients and providers.
ASCs offer several advantages, including:
● Streamlined procedural workflows
● Lower operational costs compared to hospital settings
● Shorter patient wait times
● Predictable schedules for providers
For many GI physicians, ASC settings can offer a more structured day focused primarily on procedures, often with fewer interruptions than hospital-based practices.
As healthcare systems look for ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs, ASCs will likely continue to expand their role in GI care.
While ASCs are growing, hospitals remain essential for managing more complex gastrointestinal conditions and emergencies.
Hospital-based gastroenterologists frequently handle cases involving:
● Acute GI bleeding
● Inpatient consults
● Advanced endoscopic procedures
● Patients with complex medical conditions
These settings often require close collaboration with surgical teams, hospitalists, and critical care specialists.
Because hospitals manage a wider range of patient acuity levels, providers working in these environments may experience more varied clinical responsibilities compared to ASC-focused roles.
Another major shift in gastroenterology is the growing use of team-based care models. Many GI practices are integrating Advanced Practice Providers (APPs), including Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants, to help manage patient demand.
APPs often assist with:
● Pre-procedure evaluations
● Post-procedure follow-ups
● Chronic disease management
This collaborative approach allows gastroenterologists to focus more on procedural care and complex cases while ensuring patients receive timely access to evaluation and follow-up care.
For many practices, these support models help improve workflow efficiency and reduce provider burnout.
Call coverage has long been one of the more challenging aspects of gastroenterology practice, particularly in hospital settings where emergency cases can arise at any time.
However, many healthcare organizations are now rethinking how call responsibilities are structured. In response to provider burnout and staffing shortages, facilities are exploring new approaches such as:
● Rotating call pools across multiple providers or facilities
● Dedicated hospital-based GI teams for inpatient coverage
● Locum tenens physicians providing supplemental call coverage
● Regional call-sharing arrangements among health systems
These changes aim to balance patient care needs while improving work-life balance for providers.
With multiple practice settings and evolving care models, gastroenterologists today have more career options than ever before.
Some providers prefer the structured procedural focus of ASC environments, while others thrive in hospital settings that offer complex clinical cases and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Locum tenens assignments can also provide opportunities to experience different practice models, allowing physicians to determine which environments best align with their professional goals and lifestyle preferences.
As demand for GI services continues to grow, healthcare facilities are increasingly turning to flexible staffing solutions to maintain consistent coverage and support expanding care models.
At Aequor, we work with gastroenterologists and advanced practice providers to connect them with opportunities across a variety of practice settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, and Ambulatory Surgery Centers.
Interested in exploring gastroenterology opportunities? Connect with an Aequor recruiter today to get started.
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Mar 12, 2026