Patient Information | Endoscopy Services | Evendale Medical Center at Westside

THE ENDOSCOPY PROCEDURE

An endoscopy procedure will allow your physician to visually inspect your gastrointestinal tract. Upper endoscopy (also known as EGD) includes visualization of the esophagus (swallowing tube), stomach and duodenum (first portion of the small intestine). Lower endoscopy is visualization of the colon (large bowel).

Your physician will give you medication through a vein to help you relax and better tolerate any discomfort during the procedure. A variety of instruments can be passed through the endoscope that allow the physician to stretch narrowed areas, take tissue biopsies and remove polyps.

PREPARING FOR ENDOSCOPY

Your physician will discuss your endoscopy procedure with you during your office visit. Your endoscopy appointment will be scheduled at that time. Therefore, it is best to inform your physician of your current medications, allergies, including latex allergies or sensitivity and existing medical conditions at that time.

Before endoscopy, you should follow these important safety rules which are critical to your well being. If you do not follow these guidelines, your endoscopy procedure may have to be delayed or cancelled.

  • Make arrangements for a responsible adult to drive you home after your endoscopy procedure.
  • Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your endoscopy unless your doctor instructs otherwise. This includes foods, liquids, water, candy, gum and breath mints.
  • Follow your physician's instructions regarding the cleansing routine for examination of your colon (large bowel).
  • Do not drink alcohol for 24 hours before or after your endoscopy procedure.
  • Medications
    • If you take insulin or any other routine medication, your physician will tell you how to take medication the day of the endoscopy.
    • If you take a blood thinner (such as Coumadin, aspirin, Plavix, etc.), please notify your physician when scheduling your procedure.
    • You may take your normal heart, blood pressure, breathing, or seizure medication the morning of endoscopy with a small sip of water.
    • Advise your physician if you have any medical condition that warrants pre-procedure antibiotic prophylaxis.

Failure to follow these instructions can cause serious complications.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your care, please discuss them with the nurse who calls for your preprocedure interview. In addition, feel free to call the Center at 513-454-2222.

THE DAY OF ENDOSCOPY

If you are unable to keep your appointment or you are delayed, please contact the Center at 513-454-2222 immediately and also notify your physician's office.

  • It is best to leave all jewelry and other valuable at home or with a family member.
  • Bring your driver's license/identification card and health insurance cards/forms with you. Depending on your insurance, you may also be asked to bring your copay, coninsurance, or deductible.
  • Choose low-heeled shoes and loose, comfortable clothing which is easy to put on, take off and that can be easily folded.
  • You can keep your eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aid/s and dentures in place.

Please check in at the front desk upon arrival to register. A nurse will escort you into the preprocedure area where your pulse, temperature, respiration, and blood pressure will be taken. You will be asked to change into a gown provided by the Center. Your physician will talk with you before you are given sedation.

After your procedure is completed, you will be moved to a recovery area until you are ready to go home. You will be offered something to drink. Please do not bring food from home. You may be surprised at how quickly you fee ready to leave.

Children must not be left unattended in the waiting room and will not be permitted in restricted areas for their own safety and the safety of our patients. If you choose to bring children along to the Center, please be sure that they have adequate supervision.

AFTER YOU LEAVE THE CENTER

In most cases, depending on your procedure, you will be ready to leave the Center thirty minutes to sixty minutes following completion of your endoscopy procedure. You will be given specific instructions from your physician regarding your care prior to discharge from the Center.

For your comfort and safety, we remind you of the following:

  • Have someone stay with you the day of your procedure.
  • You may return to your normal routine activities the day following endoscopy.
  • You may experience some dizziness, sleepiness, or short-term memory loss due to the sedation used.
  • Follow your physician's instructions regarding diet, rest, and medication.
  • Do not drive, operate heavy machinery or power tools, cook, drink alcoholic beverages, make legal decisions, or take any medications not prescribed by your physician for at least 24 hours after your endoscopy.
  • Contact your physician if you feel you are having problems after discharge. If you cannot contact your doctor but feel your concerns warrant a doctor's attention, call or go to the emergency room closest to you. Abnormal symptoms to report would include fever and chills, severe abdominal pain, vomiting blood, or passing large amounts of blood rectally.
  • It is very important to remember - you must have someone drive you home after the procedure.

The day after your endoscopy, a member of the Surgery Center staff will call to see how you are doing. If your endoscopy is on a Friday, you will be contacted on Monday. You may contact us during business hours at 513-454-2222.

ABOUT YOUR BILL

If you have given complete and accurate insurance information to your physician's office, our business office staff will call your insurance company prior to endoscopy to verify your medical benefits for our facility charge. This covers your preprocedure evaluation, most supplies and medications, equipment, personnel, and use of the procedure and recovery rooms. We will obtain any information regarding copayments, coinsurance, and/or deductible amounts that will be your responsibility. Payment of your share of charges is expected in full at the time you register.

If you have no insurance or if your insurance does not cover the procedure to be performed, you will need to pay the Surgery Center facility fee prior to or on the day of the surgery. Special prior financial arrangements can be made with our business office.

If you have no insurance or if your insurance does not cover the procedure to be performed, please make arrangements to pay the Surgery Center facility fee on the day of the procedure. Special prior financial arrangements can be made with our business office.

For your convenience, we accept cash, personal checks, cashiers checks, money orders, Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

In addition to our bill for the facility fee, you may receive separate bills for the following services:

  • Your physician or surgeon
  • Anesthesia, if you received general anesthesia or it was necessary for a nurse anesthetist or an anesthesiologist to be available for your procedure
  • Laboratory tests, if they were required by your physician
  • Radiology imaging before or during your surgery
  • Pathology, if tissues or specimens were removed during surgery

Any questions regarding these services should be directed to the billing offices of the appropriate provider.

Our business office staff can answer any questions you may have regarding insurance coverage or billing practices prior to your procedures if you call 513-454-2222. If you have any questions regarding your bill after your procedure, please contact our billing department at 513-247-8813.

PARTICIPATING IN OUR PATIENT SURVEY

Before you leave the Center, you may receive a copy of our Patient Satisfaction Survey. Your comments and suggestions are very important to us and will help us to improve the service we provide to our future patients and their families. Please take a moment to fill out this short survey and return it in the postage-paid envelope.



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