Gut Check on Gastroenterology Archive

February 26th, 2009

Should Nurses Be Performing Endoscopy?

Two provocative articles recently appeared in BMJ (here and here) showing that experienced, well-trained nurses are as clinically effective — but not as cost-effective — as physicians in performing diagnostic upper endoscopy and sigmoidoscopy. This randomized trial definitively answers the question of whether nurses can deliver high-quality endoscopy, but the larger question is whether they should […]

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February 18th, 2009

CMS and CT Colonography: What’s the Beef About?

Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that they are not likely to cover virtual colonoscopy (CT colonography or CTC) for colorectal cancer screening in Medicare beneficiaries. The announcement came just months after the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force declined to recommend the test, citing insufficient evidence. Not surprisingly, the radiology […]

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December 3rd, 2008

Are We Telling Patients the Truth About Colonoscopy?

Last week I heard one of our really talented GI fellows talking with a patient before her open access colonoscopy, and she told the patient that this test prevents colon cancer. I was somewhat surprised at the definitive implication of that statement and later asked her how much protection from colon cancer does colonoscopy screening provide? What […]

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