PRATT REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Pratt Regional Medical Center is pleased to welcome gastroenterologist Dr. Richard Tay to the team.
Endoscopy services at PRMC are in high demand. On most weekdays, a dozen or more patients undergo a variety of procedures. Patients come from all over south central and western Kansas to receive care at PRMC’s Endoscopy department.
Dr. Tay has been providing temporary coverage at PRMC for several months and has now agreed to a more permanent role. “I’ve really enjoyed working with the team at PRMC,” Dr. Tay said. “It’s a well-equipped hospital with a professional and friendly staff.”
Gastroenterologists are a rare specialty in rural areas, and PRMC is fortunate to have Dr. Tay on staff. “As a regional hospital, it’s important for us to provide a wide range of specialists to our patients,” said PRMC President and CEO Tammy Smith. “Patients are more likely to undergo screenings or procedures when they don’t have to travel far from home.”
With over 30 years of experience in gastroenterology, Dr. Tay earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed his residency at the University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School from 1986 to 1990 and went on to complete a gastroenterology fellowship at the same institution from 1990 to 1992.
Originally from Texas, Dr. Tay splits his time between Texas and Kansas. He has two grown children and enjoys hiking and visiting national parks in his spare time, with his favorites being Zion in Utah and Banff in Canada.
Dr. Tay is a general gastroenterologist. While many people associate gastroenterologists with colonoscopies, Dr. Tay performs a wide range of procedures. He recommends patients begin screening for colon cancer at age 45 and continue every 10 years thereafter. For those with a first-degree relative who has had colon cancer, he recommends screening at age 45 and then every five years. Above all, Dr. Tay emphasizes the importance of regular check-ups with a primary care provider and staying current on recommended screenings and immunizations.
Gastroenterologists perform a variety of procedures, including:
· Colonoscopy
· Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
· Sigmoidoscopy
· Endoscopic biopsies and removal of polyps
· Esophageal dilatation
· Gastrostomy, percutaneous endoscopic
If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tay, please contact your primary care provider and request a referral to Dr. Richard Tay at Pratt Regional Medical Center.