Know your scopes

How much do you know about the endoscopes you buy? If you're anything like most of your colleagues in purchasing, the answer probably is, "Not enough." Endoscopes are incredibly complex instruments. They're also very expensive (but you already knew that). So it makes sense to know something about them when making purchase decisions. Endoscope expert Patricia Holland, R.N., marketing and clinical consultant for FiberTech Medical, often provides education on the structure and operation of endoscopes, as well as criteria for selecting them. The following discussion of flexible endoscopes was adapted from her presentation at a recent conference sponsored by the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, of which she is a past president. Material provided by FiberTech, an endoscope repair company based in Baltimore, was also incorporated.