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Efficiency in endoscopy centers

2006; Elsevier BV; Volume: 64; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.gie.2006.07.028

1097-6779

Samuel N. Marcus,

Diverticular Disease and Complications

It is a delicate balancing act to evaluate every potential for greater efficiency against its possible impact on quality of care and, most importantly, patient safety. Continued reductions in professional fees have forced gastroenterologists to significantly increase their productivity to maintain their current standard of living. Fortunately, the advent of screening colonoscopy has made it possible for gastroenterologists to increase their procedure volume. However, to accommodate this increase in volume, they have had to explore ways to improve the efficiency by which patients are examined. Any increase in efficiency must be pursued without a negative impact on quality of care and patient safety, as measured, for example, by cecal intubation rates, withdrawal time to complete the examination, complication rates, and patient satisfaction. Fortunately, a considerable number of gastroenterologists have the opportunity to increase their income by becoming partners in ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) or free-standing ambulatory endoscopy centers (AEC). This secondary source of revenue can supplement, in some cases significantly, their practice income.