Mercy Gastroenterology and IBD Center - McAuley

High-Quality Patient Experience

The Mercy Gastroenterology and IBD Center offers the services of a dedicated IBD nurse navigator. The nurse navigator coordinates dietary/nutrition, behavioral health and exercise needs for our patients. Our navigator is available by phone and email to answer questions, assist in scheduling and direct patients to appropriate services.  

Advanced IBD Treatment Options

Our IBD team routinely provides advanced diagnostic and treatment techniques that aren’t widely available. These procedures include CT and MR enterography, chromoendoscopy and complex IBD surgery.

Complete IBD Care in One Location

The Mercy Gastroenterology and IBD Center offer many different services at one site in Oklahoma City. Gastroenterologists, Colon and Rectal Surgeons and nurse navigators provide a single location for patients who require multiple services. Patients can make gastroenterology and surgery appointments on the same day.  Our on-site outpatient infusion treatment area gives our patients convenient access to the latest biologic infusion treatments along with IV fluids and iron infusions to help alleviate painful symptoms. We’re proud to be the only IBD center in the state with this streamlined service.

Ongoing IBD Support & Education

Our Oklahoma City IBD Center provides educational materials and ongoing support for IBD patients. Please refer to the services in the left menu for additional information on conditions, tests and treatments related to IBD.

Appointments are made by referral only. Please follow the Refer a Patient steps below.

For Patients:

Please provide your physician with the information below. Once the referral has been submitted, you may call 405-752-3900 to schedule an appointment.

How to Refer a Patient For Physicians:

• Mercy Physician - To refer a patient to the Mercy Gastroenterology and IBD Center, please submit a Mercy IBD referral (REF25) with the appropriate diagnosis, and note Hussein Bitar, MD in the provider field of the “Referred to” box.

• Non-Mercy Physician – To refer a patient to the Mercy Gastroenterology and IBD Center, please fax over a referral order including patient demographics, office visit notes specific to IBD diagnosis, and any prior testing/imaging to 405-752-3911.

IBD symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include:

• Abdominal pain and cramps
• Bloody stool (rectal bleeding)
• Bowel urgency (immediate need to move bowels)
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Malnutrition
• Weight loss

Inflammatory bowel disease occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy bowel cells. This causes long-term inflammation (swelling) in the digestive tract and can damage the bowels. With new advances in IBD treatment, inflammation and symptoms from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can often be managed with medications and dietary changes alone. Surgery may sometimes be needed for more severe cases.

The Mercy Gastroenterology and IBD Center provides a single location for multiple IBD specialists and services, including the latest biologic infusion treatments. Patients can make gastroenterology and surgery appointments on the same day. 

We offer:

• Expert consultation
• Second opinion
• Dedicated IBD nurse navigator
• Injection & infusion care
• Pre-surgical care & post-surgical care
• Individualized IBD education & resource referrals
• Diagnostic testing
• Multispecialty IBD & gastroenterology clinic
• Video capsule endoscopy
• Enteroscopy

Our colon and rectal surgeon, gastroenterologist, radiologists, advanced practice providers and nurse navigator come together to discuss complex cases of Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. They then use their collective expertise to form the best treatment plans for these patients with difficult cases.