The Colonoscopy 2008 Report: Performance Measurement and Benchmarking in Ambulatory Organizations, which was completed by the AAAHC Institute for Quality Improvement, surveyed 113 ambulatory centers in 2008 about colonoscopy practices.
According to the report, the average colonoscopy procedure times ─ defined as the time from the beginning of the procedure (scope in) to the time the procedure has ended (scope out) ─ ranged from 8 to 51 minutes, with a median time of 17 minutes. Average facility times ─ defined as the time from when a patient checks into the facility to when the patient meets discharge criteria ─ ranged from 73 to 249 minutes, with a median time of 121 minutes.
The survey found that the centers who decreased colonoscopy procedure time emphasized teamwork and multi-tasking, used two procedure rooms, asked patients to complete admission forms in the waiting area, performed pre-op assessment and discharge instructions in the procedure room, moved patients to procedure rooms as soon as they were open and transferred patients to the recovery room immediately after the procedure.
Learn more about the AAAHC Institute for Quality Improvement.
