2006 Outpatient Endoscopy Direct Referrals

Once you have decided to order an outpatient GI endoscopic procedure (colonoscopy or EGD), you may schedule patients by referring to GI clinic or look under the “referral” section (under C) for other CPMC colonoscopy/endoscopy referral options

Prior to the scheduled endoscopy, patients should visit with the AIM RNs for prep instructions.

Click here for printable colonoscopy instruction:   ENGLISH SPANISH

DERS (Direct Endoscopic Referral Service)

A beeper has been created to facilitate the GI endoscopy outpatient
referral process for house staff. In an attempt to circumvent the need
to look up which individual fellow is on call for referrals week to
week one need simply page the on-call "DERS" GI fellow who will be
carrying an assigned beeper.

The outpatient endoscopy referral beeper heretofore will be: 4436 (GI
EN) which is short for "GI ENdoscopy." As discussed with the medicine
chief residents this number will be appearing on the next edition of
the medical housestaff blue cards. Please make note that the 4436
beeper has been created to improve the ease with which housestaff are
able to schedule OUTpatient endoscopic procedures and is wholly
separate from the inpatient GI consult beeper (4427 GIBS).

When and for which patients should I page the 4436 beeper?
Appropriate outpatient referral guidelines for endoscopic evaluation
include:
-Patients over age 50 years old for screening colonoscopy without
significant comorbidities (which would be defined as significant
cardio-pulmonary disease, a bleeding diathesis, psychiatric limitations
etc.which would limit the ability to undergo routine endoscopy with
conscious sedation.

What about a patient's insurance status?
-Prior to paging the 4436 pager it is important to ascertain the
patient's insurance status by checking in webcis. It should be noted
that patients with Community Premier Plus ("CPP")Medicaid must be seen
in GI clinic and are therefore NOT eligible for direct referral. These
patients must be referred to GI clinic with an appropriate referral
form from their AIM clinic doctor in order to facilitate the
preapproval process necessary prior to ordering any endoscopic
evaluation. Unfortunately, many patients have had their
colonoscopy/egd's cancelled or rescheduled due to lack of the
appropriate form/pre-authorization.

What information should I have available when I page the 4436 beeper or
Dr. Garcia-Carrasquillo?
-Name/Medical record number
-Patient's insurance status
-Brief medical background and any pertinent labs
-For recent hospital discharges in need of outpatient follow-up please
have the name of the GI fellow who was following the patient while in
the hospital