If you are nearing the age of recommended screening you may be “shopping” for the right physician to perform the procedure. It is important to make an educated choice. The ASGE (American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) has listed the top ten questions you should ask before you consent to having your endoscopy. Education is the key to making the best decisions for your health care and at GI Associates we want our patients to feel confident that they have made the best choice possible.
Print this out and take it with you to your appointment.
The answers to all of these should be yes and should reassure you that you are seeing a trained endoscopist who will safely and effectively perform your colonoscopy or other endoscopic procedure.
- Are you a board certified Gastroenterologist?
- Have you had formal training in GI endoscopy? Not learned during a short 2-3 day course or self -instruction without supervised experience
- Is your rate of cecal (total colon) intubation greater than 90%?
- Do you perform more than 100 colonoscopies annually?
- Do you have endoscopic privileges at a licensed health care facility or hospital?
- Is polypectomy (polyp removal) routinely performed during elective colonoscopy?
- Does your endoscopic facility have dedicated reprocessing (disinfection) for personnel and equipment?
- Do you offer intravenous sedation for colonoscopy?
- Do you monitor blood pressure, pulse and blood oxygen levels during sedation?
- Do you employ a trained endoscopic assistant or nurse?
ASGE - The Source for Colonoscopy and Endoscopy
IMPORTANT REMINDER: The preceding information is intended only to provide general information and not as a definitive basis for diagnosis or treatment in any particular case. It is very important that you consult your doctor about your specific condition.