Services:
The Endoscopy Department incorporates diagnostic and therapeutic procedures provided to inpatients, outpatients and Emergency Department patients, in ages ranging from adult to geriatric. Licking Memorial Health Professionals gastroenterologists , with the assistance of specially trained nurses and scrub technicians, perform colonoscopies, gastroscopies, flexible sigmoidoscopies and other special GI procedures on patients with various acute and chronic disorders.
The hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is also nursing staff on call evenings, weekends and holidays to assist the Gastroenterology physician during emergency procedures that may require immediate treatment. We can be reached at (740) 348-7245.
The LMH Endoscopy department offers the most-up-to-date equipment for optimal performance of endoscopy procedures and a staff that is specially trained and frequently updated on educational offerings to enhance their knowledge in the field. The staff works hard to make sure their patients are informed and comfortable with the education they are given regarding the procedures so they can have the best experience possible during the time they are here.
Pre-registration is done over the phone at the time your appointment is scheduled by your physician’s office. This expedites the registration process on the day of arrival for your scheduled procedure. All patients report directly to the Surgical Services registration desk on the second floor of the John & Mary Alford Pavilion. Here, your demographic information is reviewed and updated. Please be sure to bring any change of information and be able to supply a copy of your current insurance cards and driver's license at time of check-in. We ask that all of our patients arrive one hour prior to their scheduled procedure time. This allows for check-in, a medical history to be obtained, and an IV to be started (if necessary for your procedure). It is also important to bring with you a list of your current medications and any allergies that you may have. For the safety of our patients we ask that all jewelry and body piercing be removed, so please leave these and all other valuables like money, credit cards and checkbooks at home the day of your procedure. We cannot be responsible for any lost or misplaced personal items during procedures.
We understand that our patients’ time is just as valuable as ours. Therefore, we do our best to keep on schedule with our procedures, and we ask that our patients do their part to arrive on time. We do understand that unforeseen incidences can occur, so we try our best to accommodate our patients. While the GI Lab is mainly an outpatient-based department, we do have Hospital inpatients in our area as well. We ask our patients to understand that emergency inpatient procedures may cause a delay in your actual procedure start time.
All procedures are scheduled based on an average time by procedure type, however, the actual length of procedure can vary by individual based on past medical history, IV complications or biopsy/polyp removal that may be needed. Our physicians give each patient attention to these details to assure a complete and accurate exam.
We hope to make your experience as pleasant as possible. Please feel free to ask any questions that you may have regarding your procedure; the staff will be happy to accommodate you. Our trained nursing staff calls patients before their procedures to confirm appointments, and the appointment time will be given then. If you have not been able to be reached, please contact us the day before your scheduled procedure at (740) 348-7245 to confirm your time. If it is after hours, you contact the Hospital operator at (740) 348-4000 to confirm your time. We will also make sure that your questions are answered and confirm that you have received any prescriptions or preparation medications. It is very important to follow all preparation instructions given to you by your physician in order to avoid any delays or cancellation of your procedure the next day.
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The GI lab consists of a variety of staff to care for patients from the time they check in at the registration desk until the time they are discharged. Our nurses and scrub technicians are technically trained to assist with procedural equipment, and they attend regular educational training updates and seminars on the latest in GI Procedures. It is important for our staff to maintain competency to provide safe, quality care.
Upon arrival to our department, a registration unit clerk will greet you. She will review your demographic and insurance information and make sure that you have received a copy of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Practices.
Once you have been checked in, a nurse or patient care tech will assist you to one of our private session rooms. A nurse will complete your medical history, including medications and allergies (please bring a list with you) and start your IV if your procedure requires one. She will also be able to explain the procedure and answer any questions you might have regarding your procedure prior to meeting with the physician.
Once you are ready for procedure, one family member may wait with you until it is time to be taken into the procedure area. Your family will then be asked to wait in the waiting room until you return to recovery. A nurse will continuously monitor your vital signs and administer pain and sedative medications throughout the procedure to keep you comfortable. The safety and pain control of the patient is our number one priority. A second nurse or scrub technician will assist the physician with the endoscope and equipment during the procedure.
After your procedure, a nurse and patient care technician will continue to monitor you, making sure that your vital signs return to normal while you are becoming more alert. You will be asked to drink after the conscious sedation. The nurse will also review any discharge instructions and answer your questions regarding what to do once you return home. Our patient care technician or a trained volunteer will assist you to your car by wheelchair once you have been released. It is very important that you have a licensed driver take you home if you have a procedure requiring sedation medications through an IV otherwise your stay with us can be prolonged until you have made arrangements for a ride. We will not permit anyone to leave alone after receiving sedation, and we advise not driving for 24 hours.
One of our nurses will attempt to contact you to answer questions and follow up with you after your procedure. Please let us know if you have any concerns regarding your procedure or care received during your visit. We always consider concerns from our customers as an opportunity to make improvements in our processes.