GI Associates receives the ASGE Quality Recognition

Everyone believes that quality of healthcare is important, but it is often not easy to tell whether or not you are receiving “quality care”. For this reason, the following paragraphs describe how GI Associates are assuring that our patients receive the highest quality of care.

Generally, quality means the excellence of a product or service. The physicians and staff of GI Associates seek to continuously improve our care to patients so we constantly collect data, analyze it and fine tune care practices and procedures when needed to assure patient safety and sound care. Unfortunately, not all health care providers do this! GI Associate recently received the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopists (ASGE) Quality Recognition, a process that required proof of our ongoing efforts to provide high quality care.

The ASGE suggests that all consumers should ask the following ten questions before they decide which doctor they want to perform their colonoscopy or other endoscopic exam, to make sure that a trained endoscopist will safely and effectively perform the procedure:

1. Are you a licensed medical doctor?

2. Have you had formal training in GI endoscopy?
(Not learned during a short 2-3 day course or self instruction without supervised experience)

3. Is your rate of cecal (total colon) intubation greater than 90%?
(meaning that the procedure was completed)

4. Do you perform more than 100 colonoscopies annually?
(The number performed is associated with fewer complications)

5. Do you have endoscopic privileges at a licensed health care facility or hospital?

6. Is polypectomy (polyp removal) routinely performed during elective colonoscopy?

7. Does your endoscopic facility have dedicated reprocessing (disinfection) personnel and equipment?

8. Do you offer intravenous sedation for colonoscopy?

9. Do you monitor blood pressure, pulse and blood oxygen levels during sedation?

10. Do you employ a trained endoscopic assistant or nurse?
(ASGE, 2010)

All of the answers should be yes, to assure the most safe and effective patient experience. GI Associates meet all of the criteria stated in the questions above, a fact that should re-assure all patients that they are receiving the highest possible quality of gastrointestinal care.

In addition to the quality information above, in this issue you will find an expanded section dealing with consumer issues related to gastrointestinal care. We believe that informed patients can act as partners in care decisions, which also serves to improve quality of care. And, having the latest information can help you and your loved ones avoid serious health problems and in some cases, may save your life!