Gastroenterologist in Okeechobee, FL

Looking for a gastroenterologist in Okeechobee, FL? Dr. Vikram Tarugu, a board-certified gastroenterologist with more than 20 years of experience and more than 20,000 procedures performed, sees patients at Gastro in Florida in Okeechobee. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Gastroenterology (2008) and has published more than 30 papers on digestive health. At our Okeechobee office, you can have a consultation, an in-office endoscopy, and follow-up care in one place — with same-day results for most office procedures. Accepting new patients. 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.

Our Okeechobee Office

Gastro in Florida — Okeechobee
201 SW 16th St
Okeechobee, FL 34974
Phone: (863) 824-3447
Fax: (863) 824-3472
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM

Our Okeechobee office has an in-office endoscopy suite, so colonoscopy and upper endoscopy (EGD) can be done right here, with sedation and same-day results — no hospital visit for those procedures. Hospital-based procedures are performed at Wellington Regional Medical Center, where Dr. Tarugu holds active privileges. For patients from Wellington, our Wellington office is Wellington Digestive Institute, 1447 Medical Park Blvd Ste 405, Wellington, FL 33414 — call (561) 767-8342.

Services Available in Okeechobee

Dr. Tarugu provides the full range of gastroenterology care in Okeechobee, including:

• Colonoscopy — including screening colonoscopy from age 45, with same-day results
• Colon cancer screening — and colonic polyp removal
• Upper endoscopy (EGD) — for heartburn, reflux, trouble swallowing, stomach pain, and ulcers
• ERCP — advanced treatment for bile duct stones, blockages, and pancreatic problems, at Wellington Regional Medical Center
• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) — detailed imaging of the pancreas, bile ducts, and nearby organs, at Wellington Regional Medical Center
• Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) — advanced removal of larger polyps and early lesions, in the hospital
• Diagnosis and treatment of digestive conditions, including abdominal pain, and other conditions covered on our conditions pages
• Televisits — video consultations and follow-ups where appropriate

In-Office Endoscopy Suite

Our Okeechobee office has an in-office endoscopy suite, which is one of the reasons many patients choose us. Colonoscopy and upper endoscopy (EGD) can be done right here, with sedation and same-day results — no hospital visit for those procedures, and no separate trip for the answer. You will be given written prep instructions before your procedure; see our prep instructions page for the instructions and forms for your procedure. Because sedation is used, you must have a responsible adult drive you home afterward. Hospital-based procedures — ERCP, EUS, ESD, and EMR — are performed at Wellington Regional Medical Center, where Dr. Tarugu holds active privileges, with an office consultation first.

Televisits and Follow-Up

Not every visit needs to be in person. Consultations and follow-ups can start with a televisit — a video visit with Dr. Tarugu — where appropriate. A televisit is a good way to discuss symptoms, review test results, plan a procedure, or arrange follow-up care without traveling to the office. Procedures themselves, of course, take place in person. If a televisit is suitable for your situation, we will tell you, and we will arrange an in-person visit whenever one is needed. Book a televisit using the button below, or call us at (863) 824-3447.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions — Okeechobee

Where is the Okeechobee office?
Gastro in Florida — Okeechobee, 201 SW 16th St, Okeechobee, FL 34974. Phone: (863) 824-3447. Fax: (863) 824-3472. Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM.

Can I have a colonoscopy in Okeechobee?
Yes. Colonoscopy and upper endoscopy (EGD) are done in our Okeechobee office endoscopy suite, with sedation and same-day results. Screening colonoscopy should start at age 45 for average-risk adults.

Where are ERCP and EUS done?
ERCP, endoscopic ultrasound, and other hospital-based procedures are performed at Wellington Regional Medical Center, where Dr. Tarugu holds active privileges. Your consultation can begin in our Okeechobee office or by televisit.

Can I start with a televisit?
Yes, where appropriate. Consultations and follow-ups can start with a televisit — a video visit with Dr. Tarugu. Procedures themselves take place in person.

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. Uninsured and self-pay patients: you have the right to a Good Faith Estimate before scheduling — see our Good Faith Estimate & No Surprises Act notice.

Accepting new patients. Call (863) 824-3447 to schedule your visit in Okeechobee — call for the earliest available appointment. Our office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM. If you live in Okeechobee or the surrounding area and need a gastroenterologist, expert care is available right here, close to home.

Book a Televisit — see Dr. Tarugu by video

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

Patients We Serve from Across the Region

Our Okeechobee office is the home base for Gastro in Florida, and it serves patients from across the region. If you live in Okeechobee, you can have your consultation, your in-office endoscopy, and your follow-up care right here, close to home. Patients also travel to Okeechobee from Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Sebring, and Belle Glade for advanced endoscopy and for a board-certified gastroenterologist, and patients from Wellington can be seen in either office, depending on the procedure and what suits them best. Wherever you come from, the plan is the same: a consultation in person or by televisit, a procedure in the right setting — our Okeechobee office endoscopy suite for colonoscopy and upper endoscopy, and Wellington Regional Medical Center for hospital-based procedures — and a clear follow-up plan, with results explained to you, usually the same day for office procedures.