G
etting back up and running and returning to a sense of
normalcy are phrases that have been thrown around
since COVID-19 hit. As elective procedures such as
colonoscopies began to ramp back up after last year's
nationwide shutdown, high-volume GI centers had to
take a long look at their practices and protocols in order to maintain
efficiency and screening success while also making sure patients felt
safe. The pandemic threw them a major curve ball, but their physi-
cians and staff quickly pivoted in order to keep scheduling screenings
that can save the lives of the more than 100,000 patients who are diag-
nosed with colon cancer each year.
J
A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y . N E T • 4 7
Danielle Bouchat-Friedman | Associate Editor
Colon Cancer Doesn't Wait for COVID-19
Scheduling colonoscopies during the pandemic requires clear
communication, strategic case scheduling and strict safety protocols.
CLEAR COMMUNICATION The physicians at the Center for Digestive Health & Nutrition installed acrylic intubation boxes for added protection.
Frank
Kim
Staying current
Before COVID-19, physicians at
the Center for Digestive Health
& Nutrition in Moon Township,
Pa., performed approximately
7,500 colonoscopies each year.
At the beginning of the pandem-
ic, when elective procedures
were put on hold and only emer-
gent procedures were being per-
formed, the facility saw an 80%
