Open Access Endoscopy

Open Access Endoscopy allows healthy, asymptomatic patients the opportunity to have a screening colonoscopy booked at Bristol hospital directly through their primary care physician. Open Access Endoscopy is appropriate when relatively healthy patients need a screening colonoscopy, and an office-based gastrointestinal specialty consult may not be necessary. 

Colon cancer is one of the leading types of cancer in the United States and is preventable with a screening colonoscopy. Contact us today to schedule your appointment. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: 860.585.3368

 

Guidelines for patients to participate in Open Access Endoscopy

Criteria for patient participation include:

• Age 45-75 (age 40-49 if they have a first degree relative with colon cancer at age 50 or younger)
• No gastrointestinal symptoms (a formal consultation in the physician’s office is indicated in patients with symptoms, although colonoscopy may eventually be part of the evaluation)
• No previous problems with anesthesia or conscious sedation
• No anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (coumadin,plavix, etc.)
• No valvular heart disease, including mitral valve prolapse with murmur
• No cardiovascular or pulmonary disease which has required alteration in treatment plan over the past six months
• No hepatic, or renal systems requiring active medical treatment
• No uncontrolled endocrine disease (e.g., diabetes)
• No uncontrolled psychiatric disease (includes active alcohol/drug abuse)
• Patients with medically controlled hypertension, diabetes, pulmonary disease or psychiatric disease are candidates

Benefits of Open Access Endoscopy

• Patients that fit into the guidelines can discuss this with their primary care physician and request to be scheduled for a screening colonoscopy
• Patients will be able to have their colonoscopy scheduled at the Bristol Hospital Center for Surgery and Endoscopy 
• Patients will not need to lose time from work to see a consulting endoscopist
• An updated physical and health history will be provided by the primary care physician
•  All reports generated by the endoscopist will be sent to the primary care physician
• This gives patients control over their health

The staff of Bristol Hospital’s Endoscopy Department consists of gastroenterologists, certified gastroenterology registered nurses, surgeons, registered nurses and endoscopy technicians who perform patient assessment, assist with all GI procedures and provides instruction and follow-up for patients. Our highly trained, experienced staff of nurses and technicians have more than 100 total combined years of experience. 

Endoscopy services at Bristol Hospital are offered in our state-of-the-art Perioperative Center, where all services are consolidated into a single dedicated unit. Large rooms in this unit provide patients comfort and privacy during procedures. Patients enjoy the continuity of care and comfort associated with having patient registration, admitting, procedure rooms and a recovery area in one self-contained, beautifully decorated environment.