Re: Free standing endoscopy clinics
There are several certification organizations out there for endoscopy clinics (ambulatory centers).
One of them is the AAAHC. They have a great web site that will describe them to you. They offer a book for purchase which has guidelines for policies and procedures, guideines for what is expected to have an accredited facility. Also, the ASGE has a guideline for endoscopy centers available on their website that tells about developing an endoscopy center.
Normally, there should be two admit rooms and two recovery rooms for every procedure room you have. Staffing will depend n the ASA levels of your patients. Most freestanding centers do only ASA 1-2. One RN with an LPN or tech to help for admit, one RN and an LPN or two RNs for recovery. One RN and a tech in the procedure room and a scope tech for reprocessing. Then you will need whatever business staff such as registration and billing, etc.
Where I have worked, all patients are admitted on a stretcer and taken to the room, procedure done, and taken to recovery all on the stretcher.
As far as number of scopes, the recommendation is that no scope should be used more than two or three times in one day for the life of the scope. I would recommend Three upper scopes and three lower scopes for each room to be built. That way you will have a scope just used, a scope being used and a scope ready for use. Processing may take longer than the procedure and you don't want to have to wait on scopes.
Also, type of anesthesia used will make a difference on the timing of the procedure and amount of time required for recovery.
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