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Dr. Michael Wachs, MD

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Specializes in: General Surgery and Transplant Surgery

Mount Sinai School of Medicine (1988)

Professional interests include: transplant surgery procedures, hepatobiliary surgery, transplant procedures, and more.

12605 E 16th Avenue
Aurora, CO 80045

(720) 848-0005

Dr. Michael Wachs, MD is a general surgeon in Aurora, CO specializing in general surgery and transplant surgery. He graduated from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 1988 and has 36 years of experience. Dr. Michael Wachs, MD is affiliated with Children's Hospital Colorado, UCHealth, University of Colorado Medicine, UNIVERSITY PHYSICIANS INCORPORATED and UCHealth Transplant Center - Anschutz Medical Campus.

Office Locations

Address:

12605 E 16th Avenue
Aurora, CO 80045

Address:

13123 East 16th Avenue
Aurora, CO 80045

Address:

1635 Aurora Court 7th Floor
Aurora, CO 80045

Some issues Dr. Michael Wachs, MD can help you with:

Gastrointestinal Problems (Digestive Disorders)

The gastrointestinal system, or GI tract, is the name given to a collection of organs that work together to digest food. These organs fit together in a long tube, running from the mouth to the anus, and include the esophagus, stomach, and intestines, among others. With so many parts working together, complicated by today's busy lifestyles and diets, digestive problems are common. As many as 1 in 3 Americans have a digestive or GI disorder. There are a huge variety of digestive problems, but the most common are IBS, constipation, GERD, hemorrhoids, and ulcers.

IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, happens when the muscles surrounding the colon contract too easily or frequently. The result is abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea or constipation, gas and bloating. IBS attacks can often be brought on by specific triggers, so a key part of treatment is learning which foods trigger IBS attacks and avoiding them. Treatment also includes exercise, avoiding stress, and medications if needed.

Constipation, or large, hard, or infrequent stools, happens to everyone at some point. It can be caused by a disruption in routine or food, or by eating a diet without many fresh fruits and vegetables. Although it is uncomfortable, constipation is common and usually not serious, but it can sometimes become chronic. Adding fiber to the diet, exercising, and taking medications may help.

GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a severe form of chronic heartburn where stomach acid spills back up into the esophagus. Left untreated, the acid may even eat away at the esophagus and cause serious damage. Treatment includes changing the diet to avoid trigger foods, losing weight if needed, medications, or even surgery.

Hemorrhoids are blood vessels around the rectum that become irritated, swollen or torn while straining during a bowel movement. They are most often caused by constipation, but can also be caused by pregnancy, diarrhea, or simply a genetic predisposition towards hemorrhoids. Treatment involves first treating any constipation issues, then keeping the area clean and soothed until it has healed. If these measures are ineffective, surgery is sometimes used.

Peptic ulcers are sores or spots of inflammation in the lining of the stomach or close to the stomach in the small intestine. Usually this area is coated with a protective lining that shields the tissue from the strong stomach acid, but a break in the lining can let acid in, causing the sores. It used to be thought that stress caused ulcers, but now it is known that is not the case. Most often, they are caused by an infection by H. pylori bacteria, but ulcers can also be caused by alcohol abuse or overuse of aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or other NSAIDS. The symptoms of an ulcer are pain, hunger, nausea, and fatigue.

Gastrointestinal problems, perhaps more than any other area, are markedly affected by lifestyle. Many disorders can be prevented or treated at least in part by eating a healthy diet high in fiber, exercising regularly, drinking enough water, and limiting alcohol intake. Still, the frequency of digestive disorders means that even the healthiest person can be affected by them. Anyone who notices blood in their stool, experiences abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or any significant change in bowel movements should see a doctor.

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

“"We have exceptional multidisciplinary transplant teams who work well together," said Michael Wachs, M.D., Children's Colorado's surgical director of abdominal transplant.”—"Story from Children's Hospital Colorado: Three Important Things to Consider If Your Child Needs an Organ Transplant", USA Today, November 2024

“But Dr. Michael Wachs, the surgical director of abdominal transplantation at Children's who performed Peri's surgery, says several other families have expressed interest and he hopes eventually...”—"Facing inevitable liver transplant, young girl didn't need to look far for a living donor", The Denver Post, May 2017

“The organ was rushed across the street to Children's where the surgical director of Children's Transplant Program, Dr. Michael Wachs, gave it to Peri.”—"Mother Gives Daughter 'Life Again' With Liver Transplant", CBS News, April 2017

abdominal surgery	23
transplant procedures	23
urologic procedures	22

**Gender**
Male	33
Female	22

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	38
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	36

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	35
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	33
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	60
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

abdominal surgery	23
doctor visit	11
transplant procedures	23
urologic procedures	22

**Gender**
Male	34
Female	21

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	34
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	39

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	45
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	20
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	40
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

abdominal surgery	11
transplant procedures	11
urologic procedures	10

**Gender**
Male	52
Female	40

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	60
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	54

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	46
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	46
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	35
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	48
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

**Gender**
Male	18
Female	21

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	27
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	25

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	38
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

abdominal surgery	18
hospital care	60
inpatient care	60
open surgery	18
stent placement (stenting)	18
transplant procedures	18
urologic procedures	36

**Gender**
Male	38
Female	23

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	37
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	41

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	52
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	43
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	33
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	44
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

hospital care	52
inpatient care	52

**Gender**
Male	33
Female	18

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	25
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	35

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	45
Depression	0
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	33
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	47
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

abdominal surgery	18
hospital care	38
inpatient care	38
open surgery	18
stent placement (stenting)	18
transplant procedures	18
urologic procedures	36

**Gender**
Male	33
Female	24

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	25
Black	0
Hispanic	16
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	43

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	60
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	39
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	33
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	42
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

abdominal surgery	12
open surgery	13
stent placement (stenting)	13
transplant procedures	12
urologic procedures	25

**Gender**
Male	23
Female	22

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	24
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	24

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	47
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	47
Depression	0
Chronic Kidney Disease	75
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	36
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

hospital care	19
inpatient care	19

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Michael Wachs, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Michael Wachs, MD treated as a general surgeon in Aurora, CO were hospital care, inpatient care, urologic procedures and transplant procedures.

abdominal surgery	17
doctor visit	11
hospital care	42
inpatient care	42
open surgery	16
stent placement (stenting)	16
transplant procedures	17
urologic procedures	25

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michael Wachs, MD.

**Gender**
Male	26
Female	19

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	27
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	1
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	29
65 to 74	0

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michael Wachs, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Michael Wachs, MD treated were chronic kidney disease, hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	42
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	17
Chronic Kidney Disease	60
Asthma	0
Osteoporosis	0
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	35
Atrial Fibrillation	0
Cancer	0
Dementia	0

Education & Training

Dr. Michael Wachs, MD graduated from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 1988. He completed residency at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). He has a state license in Colorado.

Medical School: Mount Sinai School of Medicine (1988)

Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) (1993)

Licensed In: Colorado

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Michael Wachs, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Children's Hospital Colorado

UCHealth

University of Colorado Medicine

UNIVERSITY PHYSICIANS INCORPORATED

UCHealth Transplant Center - Anschutz Medical Campus

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Insurance Accepted by Affiliated Medical Group or Hospital:

Midlands Choice

EXCEPT

Mines & Associates

TRICARE / HealthNet Federal Services/West Region

Presbyterian Health Plan

MotivHealth/Denver Public Schools only

Cigna Connect/Colorado Option & SureFit)

First Choice of the Midwest

Optum Behavioral Health

Kaiser Permanente

Employers Health Network/Whole Foods only

Rocky Mountain Health Plans

First Health Network

Craig/Swedish/Spaulding Health Benefit Trust

Colorado Community Health Alliance

Aetna

UnitedHealthcare

First Choice Health

Simplified Benefits Administrators (fka UCHealth Plan Administrators)

Colorado Access

Denver Health & Hospital Authority - Elevate Medicaid Choice

Because changes may not be immediately reflected, please contact your plan to understand your benefits and coverage and to make sure that both Children's Colorado and University of Colorado...

Pathway, Pathway PPO, Pathway Essentials, Pathway Essentials PPO, Pathway Standard, Pathway PPO Standard, Pathway Essentials Standard, Pathway Essentials PPO Standard)

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield/Elevance

Evernorth Behavioral Health, Inc.

Blue Cross Blue Shield

- Denver Metro Region

South Dakota Department of Health - Kids with Chronic Conditions

Denver Health Medical Plan

ComPsych

Integrated Health Plans

Humana

- Colorado Springs Region

Carelon Behavioral Health

USA Managed Care Organization

Pathway Essentials, Pathway Essentials PPO, Pathway Essentials Standard, Pathway Essentials PPO Standard)

Stratose / Zelis Healthcare

MultiPlan

Cigna

Select Health

Centivo

Big Sky Region

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Michael Wachs, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	$149 Envarsus $149
Medistim USA, Inc.	$138 VeriQ $138
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.	$135 Da Vinci Surgical System $135
Werfen USA LLC	$61 $61
Kerecis Limited	$40 Kerecis Omega3 SurgiClose $40
Other	$32 SURGICEL Family of Absorbable Hemostats $18	$14

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$417
Entertainment	$138

Biography

Dr. Michael Wachs is a specialist in general surgery and transplant surgery. Dr. Wachs's areas of expertise include gastrointestinal problems (digestive disorders), polycystic kidney disease, and pancreas transplant. His education and training includes medical school at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). He is affiliated with Children's Hospital Colorado, UCHealth, and the University of Colorado Medicine.