Implementation of colonoscopy for mass screening for colon cancer and colonic polyps: efficiency with high quality of...

As awareness of colon cancer by the public continues to increase, screening colonoscopy procedures will proportionately increase. There is much written on the design of new ambulatory gastroenterology clinics, but little practical information about high-volume, mass colonoscopic screening of patients in the hospital outpatient setting. Many institutions struggle with inefficient endoscopy units that cannot always meet the dual needs of high quality and efficient performance of screening endoscopy. The patient undergoing screening colonoscopy seeks an efficient unit with state-of-the-art equipment, highly skilled physicians, highly competent staff, accurate case documentation, comfortable surroundings, and consumer-friendly follow-through of care. Optimizing these factors in existing spaces may require revision of an endoscopy unit's operations and, possibly, renovation of the endoscopy suite.