ASGE Endoscopy Unit Recognition Program honors 21 endoscopy units for safety and quality

The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has recognized 21 endoscopy units as part of its program specifically dedicated to promoting quality in endoscopy, in all settings where it is practiced in the United States. The ASGE Endoscopy Unit Recognition Program honors endoscopy units that follow the ASGE guidelines on privileging, quality assurance, endoscope reprocessing and CDC infection control guidelines. To date, 358 endoscopy units have been recognized by ASGE.

"ASGE is delighted to be recognizing these 21 endoscopy units, whose staff work hard every day to provide high-quality care to their patients in a safe environment," said Bret T. Petersen, MD, FASGE, chair, ASGE Quality Assurance in Endoscopy Committee. "There continues to be an outstanding response to this program. We are proud to acknowledge these ASGE members through our Endoscopy Unit Recognition Program for their commitment to promoting the highest standards of safety and quality."

An important component of the program is an educational course that thoroughly reviews related guidelines. Honorees attended this course, entitled "Improving Quality and Safety in Your Endoscopy Unit."

Upon completion of the program, units receive an ASGE "Certificate of Recognition" for promoting quality in endoscopy which is valid for three years, providing the unit remains accredited and complies with all program criteria. This symbol can be displayed to let patients and referring physicians know that the endoscopy unit is dedicated to delivering high-quality endoscopic care and has received specialized training around these principles.

New ASGE Endoscopy Unit Recognition Program Honorees

• Baylor All Saints Hospital Endoscopy Unit, Fort Worth, TX
• Ben Taub General Hospital GI Endoscopy Unit, Houston, TX
• Billings Clinic (Gastroenterology), Billings, MT
• Centro Endoscopico HIMA San Pablo Fajardo, Fajardo, P.R.
• Charlton Memorial Endoscopy Unit, Fall River, MA
• Gastroenterology Associates of Central VA., Inc., Lynchburg, VA
• Jacksonville Veterans Outpatient Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
• Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center, Main Campus, Houston, TX
• Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center, Spring Campus, Houston, TX
• LBJ GI Endoscopy Unit, Houston, TX
• LeBauer Endoscopy Center, Greensboro, NC
• Moses Cone Endoscopy, Greensboro, NC
• Northeast Endoscopy Center, LLC, Lowell, MA
• Northside Hospital, Atlanta, GA
• Saint Francis Medical Center Gastrointestinal Services, Peoria, IL
• Mercy Hospital St. Louis GI Lab, St. Louis, MO
• St. Joseph Endoscopy Center, LLC, St. Peters, MO
• St. Joseph Memorial Hospital Endoscopy Department, Murphysboro, IL
• The Endoscopic Oncology Center at the Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
• Trinity Medical Center G.I. Lab-Birmingham, Alabama, Birmingham, AL
• Wesley Long Endoscopy, Greensboro, NC