Gastroenterologist Serving Belle Glade, FL

Belle Glade patients choose the drive to Gastro in Florida in Okeechobee for faster access to a board-certified gastroenterologist. Dr. Vikram Tarugu has over 20 years of experience and more than 30 peer-reviewed publications, and he performs colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, ERCP, and endoscopic ultrasound for patients from Belle Glade and the Glades — including South Bay and Pahokee. There is no office in Belle Glade: your consultation and follow-up can start with a televisit or at our Wellington office, and your procedure is done in one trip — colonoscopy and upper endoscopy in our Okeechobee outpatient endoscopy suite, and hospital-based procedures at HCA Florida Raulerson Hospital in Okeechobee or at Wellington Regional Medical Center — whichever is closer to you. Screening colonoscopy starts at age 45; self-pay colonoscopy starts at $600, and most major insurance is accepted. Most insurance plans do not require a referral — call us and we will check yours. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM. Call (863) 824-3447 to schedule.

On this page: Cost & Insurance | Driving From Belle Glade | Advanced Care For Belle Glade Patients

The Drive from Belle Glade to Okeechobee: About 40 Minutes

The drive from Belle Glade to our Okeechobee office, 201 SW 16th St, Okeechobee, FL 34974, is about 40 minutes (about 35 miles) in usual traffic, according to Google Maps. The fastest route is north on SR-715, then onto SW 16th Street — turn right onto SW 16th Street and the office is on your left. An alternative, also about 40 minutes (about 37 miles), is US-98 and then US-441 N to SW 16th Street. Allow extra time in the morning, and remember that you will need a driver for the trip home after any procedure done with sedation — you cannot drive yourself home. Plan the drive with your driver before the day of your procedure, and tell us if the drive, or the prep the day before, will be difficult for you; we will help you plan around it.

Two Ways to Get Care: A Televisit or a Drive

Your consultation begins in our Okeechobee office (201 SW 16th St, Okeechobee, FL 34974) or by televisit; your procedure is done in one trip; your follow-up often by televisit. Colonoscopy and upper endoscopy are done in our Okeechobee outpatient endoscopy suite with sedation and same-day results. Hospital-based procedures are performed at HCA Florida Raulerson Hospital in Okeechobee or at Wellington Regional Medical Center — whichever is closer to you. Dr. Tarugu holds active privileges at both hospitals and is an attending physician at Wellington Regional Medical Center. You do not need to travel twice for the answer — the consult, the procedure, and the results are arranged around one trip.

Advanced Care for Belle Glade Patients

For many Belle Glade patients, the procedure they need is advanced endoscopy. Dr. Tarugu performs ERCP for bile duct stones and blockages, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for pancreatic cysts and masses and for staging, and ESD and EMR for larger polyps and early lesions that cannot be removed by an ordinary colonoscopy. For bile duct stones and blockages, ERCP and EUS are hospital-based procedures performed at HCA Florida Raulerson Hospital in Okeechobee or at Wellington Regional Medical Center — whichever is closer to you. Dr. Tarugu holds active privileges at both hospitals. Colonoscopy and upper endoscopy are done in our Okeechobee outpatient endoscopy suite with sedation and same-day results, so a single drive covers the procedure and the answer.

Patient Story: Josephine Andrews, Belle Glade

Josephine Andrews, a Belle Glade woman, has cirrhosis and a long-standing liver disease, and was told she would need a transplant. Her friend William Harris was assessed as a suitable living donor and she was placed on the liver transplant list — a major step. Josephine has since received a liver transplant. Her story is not a routine GI case, but she shares how the drive to Okeechobee brought help and hope when the care was not available locally — and how a single trip can change a life.

Cost & Insurance

We work with most major plans — call and we will verify yours before your visit. Most plans do not require a referral — we will check yours. Screening colonoscopy is covered by many plans as a preventive service, but coverage can depend on whether a procedure is for screening or for symptoms, and on your plan’s deductible and copay, so please check with your plan and with our office in advance. For patients without insurance, self-pay colonoscopy starts at $600 at our Okeechobee office. A Scholarship/hardship program exists for qualifying patients — see our Scholarship program or ask our office for details. Hospital-based procedures may also include a hospital facility fee, so please check with the hospital and our office in advance. Our office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM.

Frequently Asked Questions — Belle Glade

Is there a Gastro in Florida office in Belle Glade?
No. There is no office in Belle Glade. Your consultation can start in our Okeechobee or Wellington office, or by televisit, procedures are done in our Okeechobee or Wellington outpatient endoscopy suites, or at Wellington Regional Medical Center for higher-risk patients, and follow-up can often be done by televisit.

How long is the drive, and do I need a driver?
The drive is about an hour (about 55 minutes, about 40 miles) via FL-70 W. Yes, you need a driver: after any procedure done with sedation, a responsible adult must drive you home and stay with you for the rest of the day. The drive back to Belle Glade is too long to attempt after sedation.

What if I need an advanced procedure, such as ERCP or EUS?
ERCP, EUS, ESD, and EMR are hospital-based procedures and are planned with the team. Your treating doctor can advise on what is needed for your situation.

Which office should I go to — Wellington or Okeechobee?
Start in Okeechobee or by televisit — it is closer, and it is also where procedures are done. Colonoscopy and upper endoscopy are done in our Okeechobee or Wellington outpatient endoscopy suites. Hospital-based procedures are at HCA Florida Raulerson Hospital in Okeechobee or at Wellington Regional Medical Center — whichever is closer to you.

Do I need a referral?
Most insurance plans do not require a referral — we will check yours. We work with most major plans — call and we will verify yours before your visit.

What does a colonoscopy cost without insurance?
Self-pay colonoscopy starts at $600 at our Okeechobee office. Ask our office for the full self-pay details, and about our Scholarship/hardship program for qualifying patients.

Accepting new patients. Call (863) 824-3447 to schedule your visit — call for the earliest available appointment. Our office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM. If you are in Belle Glade and need a gastroenterologist — especially for an advanced procedure, one drive north can put an experienced endoscopist on your side. We also serve patients in Pahokee and South Bay, and throughout the Glades.

Choosing a GI doctor? Read our guide to finding the best gastroenterologist in Florida →

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