Pullman Regional Hospital Gastroenterology

Pullman Surgical Associates

Gastroenterology

If you're struggling with gastrointestinal issues, the Gastroenterology team at Pullman Surgical Associates can help! Led by Dr. Justin Cochrane, gastroenterology services are conveniently located at Pullman Surgical Associates within the Pullman Regional Hospital complex. 

If you or your primary care physician are concerned about your gastrointestinal health, it is recommended that you seek care from a board-certified gastroenterologist. Pullman Surgical Associates is a member of the Pullman Regional Hospital network of clinics, providing access to primary healthcare for the region. Services are referral-based. 

 

Meet The Team

Justin Cochrane headshotDr. Justin Cochrane is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, American Gastroenterology Association, and American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Prior to joining the Pullman Surgical Associates team, Dr. Cochrane worked at St. Luke's Hospital in Boise, ID and Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene, ID. He sees patients 18+ years old.

Education

  • Undergraduate: University of Idaho
  • Medical School: School of Osteopathic Medicine, Mesa, AZ
  • Residency: Providence Internal Medicine Residency, Spokane, WA
  • Fellowship: LECOM Millcreek Community Gastroenterology Fellowship, Erie, PA

Arrett, LisaLisa Arrett, Nurse Practitioner, has experience consulting and managing general gastroenterology conditions. She sees patients 18+ years of age.

Specialties: Liver diseases

Education:

  • Associate: Associate Degree in Nursing, Kirkwood Community College
  • Undergraduate: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, North Dakota State University
  • Graduate: Master of Science in Nursing, Grand Canyon University

Memberships:

  • American Association of Nurse Practitioners
  • Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses

Procedures, Services & Treatments

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Celiac Disease is an illness caused by an immune reaction to eating gluten. Gluten is a protein found in foods containing wheat, barley or rye. If you have celiac disease, eating gluten triggers an immune response to the gluten protein in your small intestine. Over time, this reaction damages your small intestine's lining and prevents it from absorbing nutrients, a condition called malabsorption.

Cirrhosis is severe scarring of the liver that's caused by many forms of liver disease and conditions such as alcoholism or hepatitis. Each time your liver is injured, it tries to repair itself. In the process, scar tissue forms. As cirrhosis worsens, more and more scar tissue forms, making it difficult for the liver to do its job. Advanced cirrhosis can be life-threatening.

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the digestive tract. It can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, and fatigue. Crohn's disease cannot be cured. Medications can slow the progression of disease but if they aren't effective, a patient may require surgery. Additionally, patients with Crohn's disease may need to receive regular screening for colorectal cancer due to increased risk.

An endoscopy is a procedure used in medicine to look inside the body. 

Upper endoscopy is a procedure used to visually examine your upper digestive system with a tiny camera on the end of a long, flexible tube. It's done to diagnose and, sometimes, treat conditions that affect the esophagus, stomach and beginning of the small intestine.

Your doctor may recommend an endoscopy procedure to:

  • Investigate symptoms. An endoscopy may help your doctor determine what's causing digestive signs and symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing and gastrointestinal bleeding.
  • Diagnose. Your doctor may use an endoscopy to collect tissue samples (biopsy) to test for diseases and conditions, such as anemia, bleeding, inflammation, diarrhea or cancers of the digestive system.
  • Treat. Your doctor can pass special tools through the endoscope to treat problems in your digestive system, such as burning a bleeding vessel to stop bleeding, widening a narrow esophagus, clipping off a polyp or removing a foreign object.

A colonoscopy is an exam used to detect changes or abnormalities in the large intestine (colon) and rectum. During a colonoscopy, a long, flexible tube (colonoscope) is inserted into the rectum. A tiny video camera at the tip of the tube allows the doctor to view the inside of the entire colon. If necessary, polyps or other types of abnormal tissue can be removed through the scope during a colonoscopy. Tissue samples (biopsies) can be taken during a colonoscopy as well.

Your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy to:

  • Investigate intestinal signs and symptoms. A colonoscopy can help your doctor explore possible causes of abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, chronic constipation, chronic diarrhea and other intestinal problems.
  • Screen for colon cancer. If you're age 50 or older and at average risk of colon cancer — you have no colon cancer risk factors other than age — your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy every 10 years or sometimes sooner to screen for colon cancer. Colonoscopy is one option for colon cancer screening. Talk with your doctor about your options.
  • Look for more polyps. If you have had polyps before, your doctor may recommend a follow-up colonoscopy to look for and remove any additional polyps. This is done to reduce your risk of colon cancer.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid frequently flows back into the tube connecting your mouth and stomach (esophagus). This backwash (acid reflux) can irritate the lining of your esophagus. Many people experience acid reflux from time to time. GERD is mild acid reflux that occurs at least twice a week, or moderate to severe acid reflux that occurs at least once a week. Most people can manage the discomfort of GERD with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications. However, some people with GERD may need stronger medications or surgery to ease symptoms.

Hepatitis refers to an inflammatory condition of the liver. It’s commonly caused by a viral infection, but there are other possible causes of hepatitis. These include autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis that occurs as a secondary result of medications, drugs, toxins, and alcohol.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. Signs and symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both. IBS is a chronic condition that you'll need to manage long term. Some people can control their symptoms by managing diet, lifestyle and stress. More-severe symptoms can be treated with medication and nutrition counseling.

Liver Disease can include Hepatitis, Fibrosis, Cirrhosis, and Liver failure. Your liver performs hundreds of essential functions in your body, including filtering toxins from your blood. 

When healthcare providers refer to liver disease, they’re usually referring to chronic conditions that do progressive damage to your liver over time. Viral infections, toxic poisoning and certain metabolic conditions are among the common causes of chronic liver disease. Your liver has great regenerative powers, but constantly working overtime to restore itself takes its toll.

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and ulcers (sores) in your digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis affects the innermost lining of your large intestine (colon) and rectum. Symptoms usually develop over time, rather than suddenly. Your doctor may recommend total colectomy or proctocolectomy if medications aren't helping to control your signs and symptoms. Proctocolectomy may also be recommended if precancerous changes are found during a colonoscopy.

Patient Resources & Forms

Contracted Insurance Companies, PPO & HMO with Copays or Deductibles

Pullman Surgical Associates is a preferred provider for the following companies:

  • Aetna
  • Amerigroup
  • Asuris
  • Blue Cross of Idaho
  • Cigna
  • Community Health Plan of Wash.
  • Coordinated Care/Cenpatico
  • First Choice Health Ntwk (FCHN)
  • GEHA (Aetna)
  • Group Health/Kaiser
  • Health Net Federal Svcs (HNFS)
  • ID Medicaid/Optum Idaho
  • L&I/Crime Victims
  • Medicare WA
  • Molina Washington
  • Premera
  • Regence of ID
  • RR Medicare
  • TriWest VAPC3
  • United Healthcare (UHC Optum)
  • WA Medicaid - Providerone

Non-Contracted or Other Insurance Carriers

We are willing to bill any insurance for you. However we are not contracted with all of the insurance companies. This means that you may be responsible for more of your bill.

Co-pays or co-insurance payments are expected at the time of service. We do expect some payment at each visit. For your convenience, we do take Master Card and Visa.

If you have questions regarding your bill, please call (509) 332-1163 and our office staff will be happy to help you.

Patients Without Insurance Coverage

We offer a 20% discount for patients that do not have insurance and pay their bill at the time of service. Payment plans are available if you are unable to pay in full.

Questions?
Please contact our Patient Financial Services team:

840 SE Bishop Blvd, Ste 101
Pullman, WA 99163
Phone: (509) 332-1163
Fax: (509) 332-6579

Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed on Saturdays & Sundays

What to Bring

  • Please bring any written records of your medical history you may have.
  • Bring your immunization records.
  • Bring any medications you are currently using.
  • Bring your insurance card. Insurance co-payments are expected at time of service. If you have no insurance, please contact us.

We ask that you give us three business days to process your prescription refill request.  In order to expedite this process, please contact your pharmacy to have them fax us a refill request.

If your prescription is a controlled substance and you typically drop off a hardcopy prescription to your pharmacy, please call our office at (509) 332-0632 or send us a message through your MyChart account.  For these prescriptions, we ask that you give us five business days to process your request.  We will notify you when this is ready for pick-up or we can mail it directly to your pharmacy.

Related Links:

Location | Contact Us

Pullman Surgical Associates
  • 825 SE Bishop Blvd., Ste. 130,  Pullman, WA 99163
  • Phone: (509) 338-0632  
  • Fax: (509) 715-2130
  • Referrals fax: (509) 715-2132
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