Direct Access Endoscopy
Direct Access Endoscopy – The George Centre
In conjunction with collaborating specialists, The George Centre now offers a Direct Access Endoscopy service.
What is Direct Access or Open Access Endoscopy?
Direct Access Endoscopy is a streamlined service for screening purposes and gastrointestinal health checks.
It is a direct referral system that allows eligible patients with a letter of referral from their GP or other medical specialist to book directly with the hospital for routine gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures at The George Centre.
Bookings can be made by the patient (with a suitable referral); the patient’s GP, or other medical specialist without prior consultation with the specialist providing the endoscopy service on an available date of the patient’s choice.
NB: Patients who have had a prior endoscopy may be requested to provide their previous endoscopy reports /pathology to the specialist to confirm eligibility.
Who is eligible for Direct Access Endoscopy?
This service is ideal for patients who require an endoscopy procedure as part of a recall surveillance program or for a routine gastrointestinal check.
It is most suitable for private health funded or self-funded patients under the age of 80 who are in stable health with no significant health issues, no recent ill health (6 weeks) of colds, flus or other illnesses, and for those who are on limited medications.
The George Centre’s criteria for eligible patients for Direct Access Endoscopy are:
- Fit, otherwise healthy patients with indications for colonoscopy including rectal bleeding, family history of bowel cancer, iron
deficiency anaemia, personal history of polyps, positive faecal occult blood test. - Fit, otherwise healthy patients with indications for gastroscopy including reflux symptoms, upper abdominal pain, suspected Coeliac
disease and iron deficiency.
Who is not suitable for Direct Access Endoscopy?
Patients accessing this service should not have significant comorbidities or be on the following medications:
- Clopidogrel
- Warfarin
- Other forms of anticoagulation or antiplatelet agents.
NB: Patients may be on aspirin, dipyridamole and NSAIDS. These do not need to be stopped prior to procedure. If the patient is not eligible for Direct Access Endoscopy, The George Centre will arrange for a prioritised specialist consultation.
What are the benefits of Direct Access Endoscopy?
The benefits for patients include quicker access for a procedure due to the elimination of an initial pre-op consultation with the specialist. There are also cost savings as there is no pre op consultation and in some instances, no post-op consultation. Patients in a private health fund have no out-of-pocket fees except for their hospital excess fee.
When is Direct Access Endoscopy not recommended
Patients accessing this service should not have significant comorbidities or be on the following medications:
- Clopidogrel
- Warfarin
- Other forms of anticoagulation or antiplatelet agents.
NB: Patients may be on aspirin, dipyridamole and NSAIDS. These do not need to be stopped prior to procedure.
Contraindications for Direct Access Endoscopy
Patients with any of the following conditions should have a specialist consultation prior to an endoscopic procedure and should not be booked for Direct Access Endoscopy.
- Age – patients > 80 years old or < 18 years old
- Body Mass Index – BMI > 40 (morbid obesity)
- Cardiovascular – recent myocardial infarct (within 6 months), unstable angina, atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias, pacemakers,
drug eluting stents within 12 months, bare metal stents within 6 months - Endocrinology – insulin dependent diabetes, uncontrolled thyroid dysfunction
- Gastrointestinal – recent abdominal surgery, within 6 weeks of an episode of acute diverticulitis, active Crohn’s disease or ulcerative
colitis - Gastrointestinal – recent abdominal surgery, within 6 weeks of an episode of acute diverticulitis, active Crohn’s disease or ulcerative
colitis - Liver Disease – cirrhosis (ascites, encephalopathy, jaundice, gastrointestinal bleeding
- Neurological – recent CVA or TIAs, epilepsy, dementia or mental retardation
- Pregnancy – all pregnant patients should have consultation prior to endoscopy
- Psychiatry – any major psychiatric disorders
- Respiratory – COPD, asthma, obstructed upper airway or sleep apnea
- Renal – dialysis, chronic kidney impairment
Patients with any of the above conditions should book a specialist consultation prior to any endoscopic procedure.
Costs for Direct Access Endoscopy
Privately insured patients
There will be no out of pocket costs for the specialist, anaesthetist and pathology. Patients will only be required to pay the hospital excess fee based on their insurance policy.
Uninsured patients
Patients who are uninsured should contact The George Centre’s billings team for a quote by calling 1300 022 290.
Other important information
A detailed report of the procedure is provided directly to the patient’s referrer for their review and to provide advice back to the patient.
If a post-op consultation with the specialist is recommended due to findings from the procedure, the patent will be advised of this directly.
All responsibility for the procedure and the results remains with the specialist who conducted the procedure.
How to book a Direct Access Endoscopy procedure
1. GP or other referrer to complete referral form.
2. Fax or email completed form or upload here.
3. The George Centre will contact patients within 2 business days of receiving the referral with procedure booking details and bowel
preparation instructions. Prior endoscopy reports/pathology may be requested to confirm eligibility.
4. The specialist will meet the patient on the day of the procedure at The George Centre and will arrange for Patient Consent at that
time.
5. The specialist will send a detailed report to the referrer following the procedure. The patient and the referrer will be advised of patients
requiring a post-operative specialist consultation based on the procedure findings.
Accredited Direct Access Endoscopy Specialists
Specialists providing Direct Access Endoscopy services at The George Centre are:
- Assoc Prof Ahmad Alrubaie – Gastroenterologist
- Dr Kahlid Ahmed – General and Upper GI Surgeon
- Dr Sam Al-Sohaily – Gastoenterologist
- Dr Beshoy Farah – Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist
- Dr Ricardo Hamilton – Colorectal Surgeon
- Dr Rachel Kirby – General and Upper GI Surgeon
- Dr Aldenb Lorenzo – General and Upper GI Surgeon
- Dr Ramesh Paramsothy – Gastroenterologist
- Dr Feizur Reza – General and Colorectal Surgeon
- Dr Manjunath Siddaiah-Subramanya – General & Upper GI Surgeon
- Dr Christine Verdon – Gastroenterologist
- Dr Gary Yee – General and Upper GI Surgeon
- Dr Assad Zahid – Colorectal Surgeon
- Dr Katherine Zhu – Colorectal Surgeon
Questions
For any questions regarding The George Centre’s Direct Access Endoscopy service, please speak with your GP or contact us on
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