Quality improvement of gastrointestinal endoscopy

This is one of a series of statements discussing the utilization of gastrointestinal endoscopy in common clinical situations. The Standards of Practice Committee of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy prepared this text. A previous guideline on this topic: was last revised in 1989. Since that time, new information has been released that requires update of this information and recommendations, In preparing this update, a Medline literature search was performed, and additional references obtained from the bibliographies of the identified articles and from the recommendations of expert consultants. Gastrointestinal endoscopy guidelines are systematically developed, clinically related evaluations and recommendations. These guidelines are developed with the intent of assisting the practitioner in providing appropriate, cost effective and high quality patient care. The following guideline has been developed specifically for practicing endoscopists. It is not intended as a replacement for accreditation by organizations such as the Joint Commission on. Accreditation of Health Organizations (JCAHO) and the American Association of Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Rather, it emphasizes how the ASGE defines quality improvement for gastrointestinal endoscopy.