The answers to these questions should reassure you that you are seeing a trained endoscopist who will safely and effectively perform your upper endoscopy.
- Have you had formal training in endoscopy in a Gastroenterology fellowship or surgical residency? If so, did you perform at least 130 upper endoscopies during your training?
- Are you prepared to treat conditions of the upper GI tract such as esophageal narrowing and management of GI bleeding?
- Do you assess patients for pre-procedure anesthesia risk using the American Society of Anesthesia (ASA) classification?
- Do you provide written discharge instructions and do you have 24-hour emergency assistance for questions or problems after a procedure?
- Do you track and report immediate complications if they occur after a procedure?
- Does your endoscopic facility have dedicated reprocessing (disinfection) personnel and equipment? Are the reprocessing personnel assessed on a regular basis for ongoing competency?