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PATIENT INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR PROCEDURE The information provided here will help you to prepare for endoscopy. This information must be reviewed with your doctor prior to surgery, at which point you will be asked to sign the consent form confirming that you understand this information prior to the doctor proceding. Prior to the procedure you will be assessed by a qualified anaesthetist. You will be given intravenous sedation (via an injection) by the anaesthetist who will monitor you throughout the procedure. The anaesthetist will ensure that you are asleep and comfortable throughout. PATIENT AND CARER RESPONSIBILITIES At Waverley Endoscopy you will be required to have a carer (responsible adult) to drive you to and from your procedure. You must agree to the instructions given to you and understand that non-compliance with any of these could result in undesirable effects on other patients, members of the public and yourself. During the first 12hrs after your procedure, a responsible adult should supervise you or be available if needed. During that
time you should NOT; WHAT IS THE COLONOSCOPY PROCEDURE? The colonoscope is a thin flexible tube, about the thickness of a finger for examination of the large bowel. After you have been given intravenous sedation the tube is inserted gently and moved inside the large bowel up to the junction with (and sometimes into) the small bowel. In about 5% of patients only part of the bowel can be inspected due to variation in the structure of the bowel or technical difficulty. Several procedures can be carried out through the colonoscope including taking small tissue samples (biopsy) and removal of polyps. Polyps of the large bowel may become cancerous; therefore it is advised that if any polyps are found they should be removed at the time of examination to prevent risk of cancer. At the time of examination you will be sedated and it is therefore not possible to discuss the removal of the polyp with you. If you have any reservation regarding removal of a polyp you must discuss this matter before the colonoscopy with the doctor. WHAT IS THE GASTROSCOPY PROCEDURE? The gastroscope is a thin flexible tube, smaller than the thickness of a finger for examination of the oesophagus and stomach. After you have been given intravenous sedation the tube is inserted through your mouth and into the stomach. Several procedures can be carried out through the gastroscope including taking small tissue samples (biopsy). HOW CAN YOU HELP BEFORE YOUR COLONOSCOPY? Although colonoscopy is the best way of assessing abnormalities of the large bowel there is still a small chance that abnormalities are not seen, especially when the preparation is poor. Before the procedure, the bowel will need to be emptied to allow proper examination. If the bowel is not adequately emptied the procedure may have to be abandoned and repeated at a later stage. Therefore it is essential that you follow the instructions carefully to empty the bowel. These instructions will be clearly explained to you when you pick up your Bowel Preparation Kit from the Waverley Endoscopy office. You will need to arrange a friend or elative to drop you off and to pick you up after your
procedure as you will be unable to drive yourself. HOW YOU CAN HELP BEFORE YOUR GASTROSCOPY You MUST fast (NO FLUID OR FOOD OF ANY TYPE) for at least six hours prior to your gastroscopy. WHAT YOU SHOULD TELL US BEFORE YOUR GASTROSCOPY/COLONOSCOPY Please inform either the medical or nursing staff if you are sensitive (allergic) to any
drugs or substances. You must notify the doctor if you have been taking blood thinning tablets
(Warfarin or Coumadin) or are taking any form of aspirin (this also includes Plavix or Iscover).
If you have any doubt about the medication that you are taking, please discuss this with your
doctor before the procedure. In addition, if you have heart valve disease or a pacemaker, this
must be brought to the attention of the doctor. ADMISSION (GASTROSCOPY/COLONOSCOPY) On the day of your admission we ask that you come 15 minutes prior to your appointment time in order to complete your paperwork. The nursing staff will then take you for your procedure. PROCEDURE (GASTROSCOPY/COLONOSCOPY) Prior to your procedure you will talk to the endoscopist and the anaesthetist. They will explain the procedure and discuss the risks involved. Your procedure may take between 10 and 40 minutes and you will be asleep during this time. AFTER THE PROCEDURE (GASTROSCOPY/COLONOSCOPY) You will wake up in the recovery room. After a short time you will be offered a light refreshment (tea, coffe, biscuits). Further instructions will be given to you regarding what you should do in the following 24 hours after your procedure. The sedatives given at the time may impair your memory and therefore it is important that you not undertake any important transactions, drive or operate machinery where there may be a risk of personal injury. It is important that you are accompanied home by a relative or friend. If you have any severe abdominal pain, bleeding, fever or any other symptom that causes you concern following the procedure, you MUST contact your endoscopist immediately, or alternatively discuss the concern with your family doctor.
This diagram is provided courtesy of Pfizer Australia. GENERAL INFORMATION INFECTION CONTROL This hospital is committed to providing all patients with the highest quality of care by preventing the spread of infection. Hand washing, high standards of housekeeping, and the use of sterile techniques and equipment are a vital part of the service to ensure your procedure is satisfactory and to reduce the risk of infection. Please advise admission staff if you have had any major infection in the past six months.Infection control statistics are available on request from the Director of Nursing via the contact details listed in contact us section. HAND HYGIENE Patients and visitors have a role to play in reducing the risk of infection to themselves and others. Hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection. Alcohol based hand rubs are a very effective form of hand hygiene and are located in strategic locations around the centre.Waverley Endoscopy is committed to the Hand Hygiene Australia initiative with all staff having completed the online learning package. FALLS PREVENTION The unfamiliar environment of hospital combined with the fact you have been given drugs for your procedure can increase the likelihood of falls in hospital. Here are a few ways to prevent these:- Please wear slippers or comfortable footwear that fit securely. - Please do not attempt to walk or move about after your procedure without the nurses' assistance. - Call bells are situated on your chairs, in the toilets and in the change room. - Please bring any walking aid you require with you to the hospital. MEDICATION SAFETY It is not necessary for you to bring any medications with you but if you have please advise the nursing staff.VALUABLES We provide a locker and key for your belongings but it is advisable to leave all valuable items at home.
Waverley Endoscopy is a NO GAP hospital. It is advisable to contact your private health insurance prior to admission to check if an excess or co-payment applies to your level of cover for a procedure in a day hospital. Any excess will be required to be paid on admission. PRIVATELY INSURED PATIENTS - Theatre and Accommodation fees are billed directly to your private health fund. However, if your level of cover requires an excess or co-payment you must pay it on admission.- Anaesthetist fees are individual and are billed by the specialist anaesthetist directly to you or your private health fund. - Pathologist fees are individual of which 75% are claimable from Medicare. - Endoscopist fees are billed directly to your Private Health Fund. Please note that if you have been a member of your health fund for less than 12 months your fund may not accept liability for the costs of this admission, e.g. if your condition or any symptoms of your condition existed prior to you joining your health fund. WORKCOVER PATIENTS Total payment (aside from any ancillary charges) must be made on admission unless your insurance company has confirmed approval for admission.REPATRIATION (DVA) PATIENTS Gold cardholders are covered for all care.White cardholders are covered subject to approval by DVA. OVERSEAS PATIENTS If you are insured with an overseas company, you will be asked to pay the estimated cost on admission. Please contact the hospital prior to admission for an estimate of fees and charges. As it is an estimate only, in the event of unforeseen complications or variations from the proposed treatment the cost may vary.UNINSURED PATIENTS - OUT OF POCKET COSTS Total payment (aside from any ancillary charges) must be made on admission.
All payments and charges will be explained to you on admission. |
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