An Overview
In the quest to solidify its standing as the premier health care provider on Long Island and improve upon its quality of care, North Shore University Hospital is proud to open The Center for Colon and Rectal Diseases, a world class facility in Great Neck, New York. Its mission is to provide the highest quality and most comprehensive services for the treatment of colon and rectal disorders. Its physicians service North Shore University Hospital, Long Island Jewish Hospital, and LIJ Forest Hills Hospital.
Filling a Need in Our Community
Our high volume center sees more than 5000 yearly office visits, and roughly 1000 office based procedures will be performed there each year. This facility fills a significant void in existing Long Island healthcare resources, where the incidence of many colon and rectal diseases is among the highest in the country. In fact:
- Colorectal cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths in the US
- This incidence is 3 to 10 times higher with a positive family history
- There are an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 people on Long Island with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- By age 80, 60% of the population in the United States will develop Diverticulosis and 10% of them become symptomatic.
The Team
The Center emphasizes an integrated, collaborative team approach to provide the best possible care – and “one stop shopping” – for each patient. The surgeons will work closely with nutritionists, enterostomal therapists, nurses, and social workers. In addition, the surgeons will draw upon the extensive, internationally renowned expertise available within Northwell Health . This extended team includes gastroenterologists, GI oncologists, and pathologists who specialize in the full spectrum of colorectal diseases, as well as radiologists with expertise in advanced imaging techniques such as virtual colonoscopy, MRI, defecography, magnetic resonance imaging, and interventional radiology. The Center is directed and managed by John Procaccino, M.D., who has earned a respected reputation as one of the top colorectal surgeons in New York and throughout the United States. Moreover, the center is committed to the education of future generations of colorectal surgeons and has been approved by the American Board of Colon & Rectal Surgery to offer a fellowship position in this surgical specialty, which is one of only 5 available in the metropolitan New York area, and one of 60 in the country. The medical and administrative support Staff at The Colon and Rectal Center strive to have a professional and caring attitude, as well as a broad spectrum of experience and knowledge to enhance the patient’s experience at the Center.