The Heartburn Experts

Tri-Rivers Healthcare, PLLC

The Heartburn Experts

Take Care of Your Heartburn for Good

It's definitely fall y’all! Our cover features three of Dr. William Barnes’ eight grandchildren. They’re dressed to practice some doctoring on a few good looking pumpkins and are hoping to eat some pumpkin pie real soon. From left to right Adriel Barnes, Evan Barnes, Zoe Foster.

William E. Barnes, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.S., has been performing general medicine and general surgery for over 40 years. He is the co-owner of Tri-Rivers Healthcare which offers comprehensive medical and surgical care, both diagnosis and treatment, in Salem and Marion, Kentucky. He is a resident of

Burna, within Livingston County, where he lives with his wife, Jamie. They have three children and eight grandchildren.

Dr. Barnes earned his medical degree in 1976 at the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University in Maywood, Illinois. He completed an Internship in General Surgery at the Cook County Hospital and then completed Residency in General Surgery at the Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Dr. Barnes completed and received his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) at Murray State University.

Dr. Barnes currently serves on the Trauma Advisory Committee for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, currently holds the position of Chief of Surgery and Trauma Director for Livingston Hospital and Healthcare Services, Inc. which is a Level 4 Trauma Center.

As a board certified, fellowship trained surgeon, Dr. Barnes can perform many types of surgeries and procedures and treats a large variety of conditions. He performs routine colonoscopies and hernia repairs but also diagnoses and treats disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas and gallbladder. He always focuses on customized, patient-centered, compassionate care utilizing state-of-the-art medical technology and cutting-edge procedures to ensure optimal outcomes for all of his patients.

“I was born in Waukegan, Illinois,” Dr. Barnes told me. “As part of the national scholarship I received, I was required to spend two years practicing medicine in a rural community. I came to Livingston County and stayed here. I opened my practice and have been a surgeon in western Kentucky for the past 40 years.”

“To have a rural surgeon here is extremely important for the region’s economy,” Dr. Barnes told me. “I am very blessed to work with Dr. Demetrius Patton and we admit patients to both Livingston and Crittenden County hospitals. Outpatient procedures have really increased over the years as they are better and less expensive for the patient. Many local doctors refer patients to me, but I am also internationally known, which brings patients from all over the U.S., and even the world, to these hospitals.”

Expert Surgeons Reflux surgery has long been considered the most effective treatment to provide relief from acid reflux symptoms and to help prevent more severe esophageal conditions. There are a couple of reflux surgery options for patients to choose from. Dr. Barnes expertise is in the TIF (Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication) procedure, which is intended to correct chronic acid reflux in patients of all ages. This incisionless approach uses a specialized device to rebuild the anti-reflux valve and restore the body's natural protection against acid reflux. Dr. Barnes works closely with Dr. Patton, an expert in laparoscopic surgery who performs Nissan Fundoplication, also referred to as a Lap Nissan. In this procedure, the surgeon wraps the top of the stomach around the lower esophagus after reducing the hiatal hernia, if present. This reinforces the lower esophageal sphincter, making it less likely that acid will back up in the esophagus.

“Every patient is an individual,” Dr. Barnes told me. “We check for Barret’s, ulcers and hernias. We even measure the esophagus to quantify the reflux and check for nerve damage. With so much attention to detail we are much more specific about the type of surgery needed. On our difficult cases, Dr. Patton and I scrub in together – it’s always better to have two experienced eyes on a case. We do 100 plus TIF’s in a year and Dr. Patton does 80 to 100 Nissan procedures in a year.”

Dr. Demetrius Patton, a General Surgery Specialist with over 30 years’ experience in both rural and large urban hospital settings. He is an expert at laparoscopic surgery and has performed more liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and spleen surgery than other specialists in his area. Dr. Patton is originally from Bedford in Southern Indiana. He completed his residency at Long “What solidified my plan was an incident in eighth grade. My mother had breast cancer and the doctor who took care of her was impressed that I was already learning anatomy – he offered to help me solidify my plan. He got special permission for me to learn about, and use, the surgical instruments at the small rural hospital in our town. As a freshman in high school I was allowed to watch and learn during actual surgeries. In fact, throughout high school I worked as a surgical assistant at the hospital. By the time I went to medical school I had already performed many surgeries. I graduated with over 3,000 cases and operated on major cases as an intern. My nickname was Textbook because I knew my anatomy front and back – I was that driven.”

“I was recruited by Western Baptist Hospital in 2012 and moved to western Kentucky, becoming the Director of Surgical Oncology. However after my partner passed away, I was working more than a 100 hours a week, which I felt was too much for a single dad.”

“I was very fortunate because when I moved, my whole family moved with me – my father, mother, sister, niece, son and daughter. My sister is a teacher in McCracken County. My son is at WKCTC training to be an ultrasound technician, and my daughter is at Murray State as she

wants to be a physician’s assistant.” Island Jewish Medical Center, Northshore Chronic acid reflux, also known as Health System at Albert Einstein College gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a of Medicine in New Hyde Park, New York. digestive condition characterized by abnormal flow of He graduated from Indiana University stomach acid back into the lower esophagus. Left School of Medicine medical school in untreated, GERD can cause significant damage to 1995. the esophagus resulting in a variety of health “I’ve known I wanted to practice medicine since I was five years old,” Dr. Patton told me. “I was in Bible study class and the teacher talked GERD problems, including ulcers, strictures, Barrett’s esophagus & esophageal cancer. GERD can also worsen COPD symptoms. Although the specific cause & effect about the disciple Paul laying hands more than just acid reflux relationship between GERD & COPD and healing people. I was moved has not been fully documented, GERD by the story and I prayed that God may influence lung disease severity would lead me to medicine. In sixth & has been identified as a significant grade I made the decision I was going to be a doctor and started to read anatomy textbooks to prepare – I was very committed.” predictor of acute exacerbations of COPD. GERD can cause asthma-like symptoms via two mechanisms: Aspiration of acid particles in the trachea can cause coughing, wheezing & pneumonia. Acid in the esophagus causes a reflex phenomenon in the trachea, triggering asthma-like symptoms.

“Truthfully my hobby, bass fishing, was a huge reason why I moved. laparoscopic techniques. I am currently writing a book on new techniques on advanced laparoscopy. However, this community needs a general surgeon – from lumps and bumps to the big stuff. Livingston Hospital and Crittenden Hospital may be smaller, rural facilities, but nobody should make the assumption that a small town hospital can’t deliver top notch healthcare. Dr. Barnes and I bring years of expertise and knowledge to our practice. We truly are a team and I am very fortunate to have found a partner that I get along with and who is a real friend. He’s my bud – we love working together.” “I specialize in the repair of serious hiatal hernias and laparoscopic anti-reflux procedures. The surgery I perform is the Lap Nissan, which has a similar outcome as Dr. Barnes' TIF surgery, but is a different procedure. We also do laparoscopic lung resection for lung cancer, and treat bowel and colon issues such as diverticulitis. If it’s the chest

My son and I love to tournament bass fish. I get teased all the time about the fact that I probably became a surgeon to pay for all my bass fishing! I started at age 14 with a Wal-Mart rod and an aluminum boat. I am blessed to have over 300 tournament wins. But, I couldn’t tour as a bass fishing pro, raise a son and be a surgeon – that wasn’t on the table.”

“My true specialty is as an advanced laparoscopic surgeon and

surgical oncologist. Even before I came here, I used to teach advance or belly I can get it done with the help of the camera.”

Dr. Barnes and Dr. Patton see patients at two locations in western Kentucky. They have offices in both Salem and Marion. To request an appointment at either office call 270.988.3298. Although both physicians specialize in performing surgery for GERD, there are many other conditions they can treat and procedures they can perform. For a complete list please visit their web site at tririvershc.com. *

(L-R) SEATED: PARIS FOSTER, RAIN ELDER, EVELYN ELDER STANDING: ISABELLE FOSTER, ZOE FOSTER, EVAN BARNES, ADRIEL BARNES & AVA BARNES

Photo by Matt Hernandez Creative

Tri-Rivers Healthcare, PLLC | tririvershc.com

141 Hospital Drive | Salem, KY | 270.988.3298

308 South Main Street | Marion, KY | 270.965.4377

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