Colonoscopy quality indicators
We formally survey patients who undergo procedures at our Endoscopy Center and utilize this information to document and improve our quality; we measure the appointment process, pre-procedure instructions, the facility, waiting time, and satisfaction with the physician and staff. In addition, our medical doctors and mid-level providers are participating in the new quality payment program entitled the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
Spokane Digestive’s Quality
- All of our board-certified gastroenterologists have completed a formal Gastroenterology fellowship.
- Our endoscopists each perform more than one thousand endoscopies annually.
- The adenoma detection rate (ADR) is the national standard for measuring colonoscopy screening quality; we measure and track our ADR rates; Spokane Digestive’s ADR rates exceed the national benchmarks for quality (see chart below).
- We measure and track the length of withdrawal time of the endoscope; our average withdrawal times exceed the national standard for quality which is a minimum of six minutes (see explanation above).
- We monitor and track the effectiveness of colonoscopy preparation.
- We assess patients for pre-procedure anesthesia risk using the ASA classification system.
- We provide written discharge instructions, 24-hour emergency assistance for questions or problems after a procedure, and all patients receive a follow-up phone call the day after their procedure.
- Our endoscopic ambulatory surgery center has dedicated, reprocessing (disinfection) staff who undergo recurrent training on infection control based on national standards.