Intermountain Health and Gastroenterology of the Rockies have opened the new Downtown Denver Endoscopy Center to enhance patient care by offering better access and clinic experience to patients needing gastrointestinal care.

The new center is located at 1830 Franklin St. Suite 210 in Denver. It offers colonoscopy and endoscopy care where doctors use specialized medical imaging to screen, diagnose, and plan treatment for digestive conditions.

“This advanced facility is designed to enhance patient care by offering a high-quality experience for outpatient gastrointestinal procedures such as colonoscopy and upper endoscopy,” said Lara Kelley, chief executive officer of Gastroenterology of the Rockies. 

The center began seeing patients in March.

The center is a joint venture agreement between Intermountain Health and Gastroenterology of the Rockies and is designed to bring quality healthcare close to where people live and work. It is conveniently located across the street from Intermountain Health Saint Joseph Hospital.

“Intermountain Health has proudly served downtown Denver for more than 150 years, and we are excited to partner with these clinicians to support this service,” said Scott Peek, president of Intermountain Health's Front Range Market in Colorado.

Intermountain Health is highlighting awareness in March about the importance of colon cancer screenings with the “Let’s Get to the Bottom of Colon Cancer,” which features a giant inflatable colon available for public visits in the Denver metro area March 17-20.

The “Let’s Get to the Bottom of Colon Cancer” campaign aims to raise critical awareness about colon cancer and the importance of potentially life-saving screenings.  

The tour provides an interactive opportunity for the public to walk through the 12-foot long, 12-foot high, 113-pound inflatable colon, which depicts the different stages of colorectal cancer, starting with the earliest stage of a precancerous colon polyp.

“This tour is an opportunity to spread awareness to our patients and their families about colorectal cancer, knowing their risks of cancer, and the best screening tests to reduce that risk,” said Noelle Bertelson, MD, colorectal surgeon with Intermountain Health. “Colon cancer is preventable, treatable, beatable. In fact, colon cancer can have a greater than 90% survival rate when detected early.”

The American Cancer Society estimates that 107,320 new cases of colon cancer and 46,950 new cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2025. They reported that about 53,000 Americans died from colon cancer in 2024.

“Altogether, aside from skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer diagnosed in men and women in the U.S.,” said Dr. Bertelson. “An alarming trend is the rising incidence of colorectal cancer in people under the age of 55.”

In fact, according to the American College of Gastroenterology, people born around 1990 have twice the risk of colon cancer and four times the risk of rectal cancer as those born around 1958, hence the reason for the recommended screening age for colonoscopy screening being dropped to age 45.

Dr. Bertelson stresses the goal is to get the public to take control of their health and better understand that individual risk factors, such as a family history of colorectal cancer, inherited genetic disorders, or certain lifestyle choices may increase the likelihood that a person will develop colon cancer.

The only way to detect colon cancer is through screening. People with an average risk of colon cancer should start their screenings at age 45.

A colonoscopy, which is an examination of the inside of your colon, is the most effective method of screening for colon cancer, precancerous growths, and polyps. If an abnormal mass or polyp is identified during the outpatient procedure, the physician will identify the best course of treatment, which may include removing it during the procedure.

“Finding and removing polyps during a colonoscopy can prevent those polyps from developing into cancer,” said Dr. Bertelson. “Delays in screening could lead to a delayed cancer diagnosis. Screening can truly save a life and protect a family. We need everyone’s help to work together to prevent colon cancer across our communities.” 

Stops for the Intermountain inflatable colon tour are: 

• 10 am to 2 pm, March 17, at Lutheran Hospital, 12911 W. 40th Ave., Wheat Ridge.

• 10 am to -2 pm, March 18, at Saint Joseph Hospital, 1375 E. 19th Ave., Denver.

• 10 am to 2 pm, March 20, at Good Samaritan Hospital, 200 Exempla Circle, Lafayette.

Intermountain will have a livestream event on Facebook – Preventing and Screening for Colon Cancer. The event is on March 17 from 10:25 to 11:15 am. It can be found on the Intermountain Lutheran Hospital Facebook page. Experts from Intermountain Health will provide insights on preventing colon cancer and emphasize the importance of regular screenings. 

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