Regional Gastroenterology Associates of Lancaster, Ltd. ("RGAL") as we know it today is the result of the 1995 merger of two separate Gastroenterology physician groups. This was the first combined practice of M.D. and D.O. physicians in the Lancaster area. The common goal of patient care excellence was the driving force to form RGAL. This new practice chose a brand new location in a brand new building - the Lancaster General Health Campus. A satellite office was also established at the Ephrata Community Hospital Campus.

In 1999 RGAL welcomed Alexandra Gibas, M.D., a gastroenterologist specializing in Hepatology. The addition of Dr. Gibas was not only important in terms of our commitment to treating diseases of the liver, but also offered an alternative for those seeking out a female physician.

The Practice continued to examine ways to provide appropriate care to the citizens of Lancaster County and identified an unfulfilled need in the pediatric patient population. In the spring of 2000, a full-time pediatric gastroenterologist was added to the RGAL team. Attila Devenyi, M.D., a Board Certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist, began providing specialized services previously offered at tertiary centers such as Hershey Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia or Johns Hopkins.

The growth in the county's population and demand for GI services supported the need for additional physician resources. Daniel C. Connell, M.D. and Carl G. Colton, M.D., joined our Practice in 2000 and 2001, respectively. These board-certified physicians added their experience and skills to round out the physician complement.

Our physical space also had to expand to meet the demands for GI services. In 2000, we renovated our office to accommodate an in-office endoscopy unit as well as expanded physician services. In 2002, we received a license from the Department of Health to operate an ambulatory surgery facility. Our goal in creating the Mid-Atlantic GastroIntestinal Center was to provide a cost effective and safe environment to perform endoscopy procedures. This was also in response to the demands of our patient population, who wanted a comfortable option to the hospital outpatient setting. This facility has been well received by the public.

Recognizing the need to be efficient in how we provide patient care, we added Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNP) to our team. These individuals assist us with colon cancer screening and our hospital practice.

Continuing demand for GI services prompted us to recruit additional physician resources to Lancaster County. In July 2005, Mehul J. Lalani, M.D., and David M. Smith, M.D., joined the RGAL team. These highly trained physicians brought their contemporary skills and families to the community.

Northern Lancaster County continues to grow and has needs for access to care. In response, RGAL constructed a new facility at 4140 Oregon Pike, in Brownstown, PA. Its opening in June 2007 presented patients throughout Lancaster County with a state of the art endoscopy and office facility. Along with the expansion of our services, we recruited additional trained staff to assist in the delivery of patient care. We also made a conscious effort to increase diversity within our workforce.

Beginning with our formation, we have made continuing investments in information technology, medical equipment and ongoing facility renovation to continue to meet our mission. A recent example is the implementation of Electronic Medical Records, completed in 2007. During these projects, the RGAL team remains focused and committed to emphasize patient care and safety. These efforts have been undertaken with the RGAL motto in mind, "Caring Staff Providing Care".

As we look to the future, we expect to continue to offer quality services using the latest technology. We will also strive to continously improve our processes in order to improve access for our patients and the referring physician community. As the leading gastroenterology practice in Lancaster, we remain committed to service excellence!

We welcome you to our website as well as to our Practice. If we can be of assistance to you in any way, do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you.