Instead, have staff explain — in detail — what exactly they're doing,
and what the patient can expect next. It may take some additional time
on the front end, but it can boost your overall efficiency, says Ms.
Harrell. "People are more confident to leave and go home when they
have instructions in their hands and they feel like they know what to
expect," she says.
3
Sedation
While some GIs insist on propofol, others prefer the standard
conscious sedation combination of midazolam and fentanyl. Mr.
Poitras says the decision comes down to the patient's ASA score —
those with scores of 3 or higher receive propofol while healthier
patients receive conscious sedation.
Ms. Harrell says almost all colonoscopies are done under propofol
sedation. Not only do patients recover more quickly, but it frees up
endoscopists to focus on the scope rather than the anesthetic.
"Patients don't wake up with that 'hangover' that can happen with
other sedation methods. It makes a huge difference," she says.
Ms. Johnson says that most of her docs use conscious sedation.
Though the medications don't kick in as quickly as propofol, she feels
they have several advantages. "A lot of centers are moving to 100%
propofol," she says, "but it adds costs and our patients do fine with
conscious sedation."
4
Scope technology
The latest colonoscopes with HD or 4K images, 330-degree
views of the colon and enhanced colorization let physicians
quickly and easily spot polyps during screenings, says Ms. Johnson. To
give her physicians the best technology without a big capital outlay,
Ms. Johnson says her center has a leasing agreement that lets them
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