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William Newton Hospital announces some important changes to Endoscopy Services at the hospital

William Newton Hospital is pleased to announce some important changes to Endoscopy Services at the hospital. Of greatest interest to patients is a change in the technique used for sedation and pain control.

Until November of this year, endoscopy procedures (colonoscopy, gastroscopy, and bronchoscopy) were performed using conscious sedation administered by specially trained nurses under the supervision of the physician performing the procedure. While satisfactory in most cases, this technique sometimes produced a less than optimal level of sedation and pain control, which was difficult to adjust mid-procedure.

According to Dr. Anthony Johnstone, Chief of Surgery at WNH, the use of continuous-drip intravenous sedation administered by a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) produces a far more pleasant experience for the patient. An even level of deep sedation can be consistently maintained throughout the procedure. Once the drip is discontinued, patients rapidly recover with minimal side effects. The technique also allows for easier management of the procedure by the physician. A side benefit is that the hospital will have an additional CRNA available for other patient care needs.

The second major change underway is the relocation of Endoscopy Services to the Surgery Department following some minor remodeling. This will provide for a more efficient flow of patients through the system with fewer delays, and allow the use of the existing post-anesthesia recovery area by endoscopy patients. The move is scheduled for January 2010.

Source: WNH

You can discuss more about Gastroenterology & Endoscopy and related topics in our Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Group.