Fort Worth, Texas/Sun Valley, Idaho —OMNI Health Media (OMNI) is pleased to announce the Legacy Medical Group (LMG) - Gastroenterology  online support community for individuals with gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. The Legacy Gastroenterology- Health Connection will provide patients, survivors, caregivers, and advocates much needed peer-to-peer support opportunities in a fully moderated online community. This community will be part of OMNI’s theGIConnection.com initiative. Join the conversation at www.gastroenterologycommunity.com.

Research shows that patients seek validation, information, and support via social media. Unlike other social media platforms, theGIConnection allows individuals to interact in a confidential, safe, and secure environment. Members of the LMG - Gastroenterology- Health Connection can participate in disease-specific national groups that provide support and education. Support groups include: inflammatory bowel disease, hepatitis, Barrett’s esophagus, GI cancers, irritable bowel syndrome, caregiving, health and wellness, clinical trials, insurance, nutrition, and survivorship.

TheGIConnection is one of four disease-focused online community destinations developed and managed by OMNI: CancerConnect, theRAConnection, Kintalk, and theGIConnection provide support and inspiration to more than 300,000 patients each month. These OMNI Connect communities are utilized by leading health providers throughout the United States, including Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, The University of California, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, The Ohio State James Cancer Institute, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.  LMG joins Gastro Health Miami and the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Support Foundation as members of the growing GIConnection community.

“People with GI conditions and their caregivers need ongoing access to support—not just during a brief office visit with their physician, but when they go home and do research. They need help during sleepless nights as well as busy days,” explains Charles Weaver, MD, a medical oncologist and CEO of OMNI. “We are pleased that leading care providers like LMG continue to select the OMNI Connect application for patient and caregiver use on their website.”

About LMG Gastroenterology:  LMG Gastroenterology is a specialty clinic focusing on gastroenterology as part of Legacy Health. LMG Gastroenterology provides personal, compassionate care along with the most advanced techniques and proven treatments. Legacy's specialty clinics - part of Legacy Medical Group - serve a wide range of medical needs, delivering expert care with respect and compassion. To learn about Legacy's other services for adults with stomach problems and other digestive disorders, go here.

About theGIConnection: TheGIConnection is an online support community providing information, inspiration, and support for individuals with conditions affecting the GI tract. As part of the OMNI Connect platform, theGIConnection not only meets the needs of gastroenterology patients and caregivers but also provides clinics and hospitals with a safe and secure social media solution that allows them to increase referrals, improve patient retention and enhance patient engagement by providing 24/7 support and creating community for their patients while extending their brand.

TheGIConnection was created to facilitate access to news, information, education, and support for patients with GI cancers, acid reflux and Barrett’s esophagus, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, liver disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, and other conditions affecting the GI tract. TheGIConnection has already gained national attention in a recent review in Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News.

About OMNI Connect: OMNI Connect is the leading private-label social network used by physicians, hospitals, and clinics to create community and provide support for their patients. OMNI Connect can be used to create communities for any health condition. This unique online application was developed by OMNI Health Media and combines a robust information platform consisting of current, comprehensive information on health topics with a social network. It is populated with rich content to support the many ongoing needs of patients and is comprised of communities of individuals with similar interests.

About OMNI Health Media: OMNI Health Media is a leading specialty publisher, and developer of websites and Internet applications in healthcare with a focus on cancer, rheumatology, gastroenterology, and women’s health. OMNI develops and distributes award winning multi-media health education content and programming. OMNI has developed and provided content to over 350 websites used by 2,700 physicians. OMNI’s award-wining programs reach over 1.5 million seekers of health information in English, Japanese, and Spanish each month. OMNI Health Media currently publishes and manages Women magazine, CancerConnect.com, TheRAConnection.com,aWomensHealth.com, theGIConnection and The Web Chats with the Experts interactive series featuring thought leaders from institutions such as Memorial Sloan Kettering, Johns Hopkins, Yale, and other prominent health centers.

Contact chweaver@omnihealthmedia.com

Tags: anal fissures, Barrett's Esophagus Esophageal Cancer, Celiac Disease, cirrhosis, Colon Cancer, crohns disease ulcerative colitis, Esophageal Cancer, Gallbladder and Bile Duct Cancer, gallstones, Gastric Cancer, gastric Ulcer, gastroenterology, GERD, GI support, hemorrhoids, Hepatitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, legacy medical group, Liver Cancer, News Tips and Features, News Tips and Features Other, non alcoholic fatty liver disease, Pancreatic Cancer, proctalgia, proctitis, Rectal Cancer, support group, ulcerative colitis