GoTo Telemed, the nation's leading integrated telehealth ecosystem serving over 10 million patients nationwide, today announced the launch of its dedicated Chronic Constipation Program, a comprehensive virtual care service designed to address the full spectrum of functional and structural gastrointestinal conditions through evidence-based diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management. Delivered by a network of board-certified gastroenterologists and digestive health specialists, this program provides accessible, expert care for a condition affecting millions of Americans throughout their lives.

Chronic constipation affects an estimated 20% of the U.S. population, with prevalence increasing with age and disproportionately impacting women, older adults, and individuals with certain chronic conditions. Despite its significant impact on quality of life, productivity, and healthcare utilization, many individuals suffer in silence due to embarrassment, limited access to specialists, or normalization of symptoms. GoTo Telemed's program eliminates these barriers by bringing expert digestive health support directly to patients through secure, confidential virtual consultations.

"Constipation is not a topic most people feel comfortable discussing, yet it profoundly affects daily life, causing physical discomfort, emotional distress, and significant impairment in work and social functioning," said a GoTo Telemed spokesperson. "Our Chronic Constipation Program changes this paradigm. We provide patients with direct access to gastroenterologists who understand the complexity of digestive health, offer evidence-based diagnostic and treatment pathways, and deliver continuous support that addresses both symptoms and underlying causes. Through telehealth, we ensure that every individual, regardless of where they live or how uncomfortable they feel discussing their symptoms, receives the expert, compassionate care they deserve."

Comprehensive Clinical Services for Digestive Health

GoTo Telemed's Chronic Constipation Program addresses the full range of constipation presentations through specialized clinical pathways:

Clinical Focus Services and Interventions
Functional Constipation Comprehensive evaluation including detailed bowel history, symptom characterization using Rome IV criteria, and assessment of contributing factors including diet, hydration, physical activity, and medications. Evidence-based treatment planning incorporating fiber optimization, osmotic and stimulant laxatives, and behavioral modifications.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C) Specialized assessment for patients whose constipation coexists with abdominal pain and bloating. Treatment pathways including soluble fiber, gut-directed neuromodulators, secretagogues (linaclotide, lubiprostone, plecanatide), and emerging therapies. Integration with behavioral health for stress management when indicated.
Pelvic Floor Dyssynergia Virtual screening for defecatory disorders using validated questionnaires and directed history. Coordination with pelvic floor physical therapists and guidance on biofeedback therapy. Referral pathways for anorectal manometry and balloon expulsion testing when in-person evaluation indicated.
Opioid-Induced Constipation Specialized management for patients on chronic opioid therapy, including evidence-based protocols for peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs) and combination approaches. Coordination with pain management providers within GoTo Telemed's integrated network.
Constipation-Predominant Disorders in Special Populations Age-appropriate care for pediatric patients, pregnant individuals, older adults, and patients with neurologic conditions affecting bowel function. Tailored treatment plans accounting for physiologic differences and medication safety considerations.
Medication-Refractory Constipation Advanced evaluation for patients failing first- and second-line therapies, including assessment for underlying metabolic, endocrine, or structural causes. Coordination with in-person gastroenterologists for colonoscopy, motility testing, and specialized interventions when indicated.
Evidence-Based Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols

The program operates within a rigorous clinical framework aligned with leading professional guidelines, including those from the American Gastroenterological Association and the American College of Gastroenterology:

Structured Initial Assessment: New patients undergo comprehensive virtual evaluation including detailed bowel history using Rome IV diagnostic criteria, dietary and lifestyle assessment, medication review, and evaluation of alarm features requiring urgent in-person evaluation (unexplained weight loss, rectal bleeding, family history of colon cancer, acute onset in older adults).

Digital Symptom Tracking: Patients receive access to digital tracking tools enabling systematic recording of bowel frequency, stool consistency using the Bristol Stool Scale, associated symptoms, and treatment response. This objective data supports accurate diagnosis and enables precise treatment monitoring.

Personalized Treatment Planning: Based on comprehensive assessment, providers develop individualized treatment plans incorporating evidence-based options including dietary fiber optimization, osmotic laxatives (polyethylene glycol, lactulose), stimulant laxatives (bisacodyl, senna), secretagogues, and emerging therapies. Treatment selection accounts for symptom pattern, severity, patient preferences, and comorbid conditions.

Integrated Laboratory Coordination: When diagnostic testing is required to evaluate for underlying conditions such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, or hypercalcemia, providers order appropriate studies at patient-selected local facilities, with results securely transmitted to GoTo Telemed's platform for interpretation.

Specialist Collaboration and Referral: For complex cases requiring anorectal manometry, colonoscopy, or specialized motility testing, the program facilitates seamless referral to GoTo Telemed's network of affiliated gastroenterologists and facilities, ensuring continuity and warm handoffs.

Addressing Disparities in Digestive Health Access

The Chronic Constipation Program directly confronts persistent barriers to gastroenterology care:

Geographic Access: Specialist shortages in rural and underserved communities leave millions without access to gastroenterologists. Telehealth eliminates this barrier, connecting patients with expert providers regardless of location. Wait times for gastroenterology appointments in many markets exceed three to six months, during which patients suffer with unmanaged symptoms.

Stigma Reduction: Many individuals hesitate to seek help for bowel symptoms due to embarrassment or normalization. Virtual consultations from home offer enhanced privacy, reducing stigma and increasing treatment engagement.

Care Fragmentation: Patients with chronic constipation often receive fragmented care from primary care providers, gynecologists, and other specialists without coordinated expertise. GoTo Telemed's integrated approach ensures all care is guided by gastroenterology expertise.

Continuity of Care: Chronic constipation requires ongoing management with treatment adjustments over time. The program provides continuous, longitudinal support rather than episodic visits.

Integration Within GoTo Telemed's Comprehensive Ecosystem

The Chronic Constipation Program operates as a fully integrated component of GoTo Telemed's unified telehealth platform:

Unified Health Record: All consultation documentation, treatment plans, and symptom tracking data are incorporated into the patient's lifetime electronic health record, accessible to all authorized providers across medical and specialty care. A primary care physician managing diabetes can instantly review gastroenterology recommendations when they impact overall care.

Seamless Care Coordination: When patients present with conditions requiring multidisciplinary care—such as constipation with pelvic floor dysfunction or opioid-induced constipation requiring pain management collaboration—the platform facilitates warm handoffs to appropriate specialists within GoTo Telemed's network.

Integrated Pharmacy Services: Prescriptions for laxatives, secretagogues, and other medications are transmitted electronically to patient-selected pharmacies, with automated refill management and adherence monitoring.

Digital Symptom Tracking Tools: Patients access validated symptom tracking instruments through GoTo Telemed's patient portal, enabling systematic monitoring of treatment response and early identification of changes requiring intervention.

Patient Education Resources: The platform provides access to evidence-based educational materials on dietary management, fiber optimization, lifestyle modifications, and bowel retraining techniques, reinforcing treatment plans between visits.

Clinical Impact and Quality of Life Outcomes

The clinical benefits of timely, expert constipation management are well-documented and profound:

Improved Quality of Life: Effective management significantly reduces abdominal discomfort, bloating, and straining, enabling patients to fully participate in work, social activities, and daily life without constant digestive distress.

Reduced Healthcare Utilization: Appropriate management reduces emergency department visits for severe constipation and impaction, as well as unnecessary diagnostic testing.

Prevention of Complications: Timely intervention prevents complications including hemorrhoids, anal fissures, rectal prolapse, and fecal impaction.

Medication Optimization: Expert guidance ensures patients receive appropriate therapies rather than cycling through ineffective over-the-counter products, reducing out-of-pocket costs and improving outcomes.

Mental Health Benefits: Effective treatment of chronic constipation reduces associated anxiety and depression, with corresponding improvements in overall mental health and well-being.

A Transformative Opportunity for Gastroenterology Providers

For gastroenterologists and digestive health specialists, GoTo Telemed's Chronic Constipation Program offers a meaningful practice opportunity:

Focus on Meaningful Work: Providers dedicate their practice to a population with profound needs for specialized, compassionate care, experiencing the satisfaction of improving digestive health outcomes across diverse patient populations.

Flexible Practice Model: Clinicians maintain complete autonomy over their schedules, practicing as little or as much as desired while serving a nationwide population of patients seeking digestive health expertise.

Complete Practice Support: GoTo Telemed provides full malpractice insurance coverage, comprehensive billing and coding support for gastroenterology services, and immediate access to a growing population of patients seeking chronic constipation management.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Providers work within an integrated team alongside primary care physicians, pelvic floor physical therapists, behavioral health specialists, and pain management providers, contributing their expertise to comprehensive patient care.

No Administrative Burden: The platform handles all credentialing, scheduling, billing, and documentation, allowing clinicians to focus entirely on clinical care and patient relationships.

Regulatory Compliance and Quality Assurance

The Chronic Constipation Program operates within GoTo Telemed's rigorous compliance framework:

State-Specific Licensure Management: Verification of active, unrestricted licenses in all states where care is delivered, with support for interstate licensure compacts

Gastroenterology Clinical Guidelines: Adherence to AGA and ACG evidence-based guidelines for chronic constipation management

Quality Monitoring: Ongoing peer review, competency assessments, and patient outcome tracking ensuring maintenance of highest care standards

HIPAA-Compliant Infrastructure: Enterprise-grade encryption, access controls, and regular third-party security audits ensuring complete protection of patient health information

Telemedicine Coverage Compliance: The program navigates the evolving telemedicine reimbursement landscape, with the platform handling insurance verification and coverage determinations. As of October 2025, certain federal waivers affecting Medicare coverage have expired, and GoTo Telemed's revenue cycle team ensures patients receive accurate information about coverage prior to their visit .

Availability and Partnerships

GoTo Telemed's Chronic Constipation Program is available immediately to patients nationwide through the GoTo Telemed platform and mobile application. Patients may enroll directly or be referred by their primary care provider, gynecologist, or other health professional.

Gastroenterologists and digestive health specialists interested in joining GoTo Telemed's provider network are invited to apply through the company's credentialing portal.

GoTo Telemed is actively forming strategic partnerships with:

Gastroenterology practices seeking to expand virtual service offerings

Primary care networks managing digestive health across large populations

Pelvic floor physical therapy practices

Health plans and Medicare Advantage organizations

Employer wellness programs and digestive health initiatives

Skilled nursing facilities and senior living communities

Community health centers serving underserved populations


Media Contact:
GoTo Telemed Media Relations
[email protected]
(660) 628-1660
www.gototelemed.com