In 2008, Southeast Georgia Health System partnered with Legato Medical Systems™  to open the new Heartburn Care Center. Legato affiliates with local medical communities to establish exclusive healthcare centers that identify and treat patients suffering from heartburn and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The new Center, located on the first floor of the Outpatient Care Center, will provide patients in southeast Georgia with the latest in anti-reflux surgical techniques and heartburn treatments with a multi-disciplinary approach that treats the patient as a whole, not just the symptoms.

Studies show that approximately 30% of American adults suffer from occasional heartburn, while about 10% experience it daily. Heartburn, chest pain and regurgitation are the most common symptoms of GERD of which results from stomach acid “backing up” into the esophagus.  The cause of GERD is a malfunctioning of the valve located between the stomach and esophagus allowing this acid “back up” to occur.  GERD is also associated with the development of esophageal cancer. 

Common Symptoms of GERD are:
• Heartburn
• Regurgitation
• Chest Pain
• Difficulty Swallowing

Less Common Symptoms are:
• Asthma
• Nausea
• Belching
• Choking
• Hoarseness

The Southeast Georgia Health System Heartburn Care Center offers help to heartburn sufferers with personal, one-on-one consultations, evaluations and treatment. Our personnel are board-certified and specially trained in chronic heartburn management.

Our medical team includes:

Gastroenterologists:
Huitt E. Mattox III, MD  David Whitehead, MD

Surgeons:
Vincent Arlauskas, MD  Stephen Barrett,MD     Peter Henderson Jr.,MD   Harold Kent, MD.

This team of experienced health professionals ensures you receive the proper evaluations and treatment and are readily available to answer all your questions and concerns. Coupled with the excellent facilities of the Outpatient Care Center, which includes state-of-the-art outpatient surgical services on the second floor, patients can be assured of receiving the best treatment available.

If you suffer from severe or chronic heartburn, or for more information about GERD, call 912) 466-4070.