According to CNN, doctors perform around 15 million colonoscopies per year. As you can see, a colonoscopy is a common procedure. However, you may still struggle to find a doctor who can do do colonoscopy. Several types of physicians do colonoscopies. You likely don’t know which doctor to search for. When you learn that, you need to learn how to find the best doctor out of these doctors.
Don’t worry! This article will answer all the frequently asked questions about finding a colonoscopy doctor near you. Read on!
What Is a Colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a medical procedure where a doctor examines the inside of a patient’s large intestine. This is the part of the digestive system that experts call the colon. While the doctor is looking, they are searching for any potential problems in the area. Two problems that doctors often look for are polyps or colorectal cancer. Colon polyps are small growths that are not cancerous but could become so. Most experts believe that a colonoscopy is the best way to detect polyps and prevent colon cancer. Once a colonoscopy doctor detects more colon cancer, they can diagnose and treat it right away.
What Happens During a Colonoscopy?
Before the procedure begins, a Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CNA) administers a light anesthesia. This makes the procedure completely painless. The anesthesia kicks in very quickly. Then, the doctor this is a thin, flexible tube through your rectum into the colon. The tube has a light and the definition, specialized camera on one end. The doctor will use this to view the inside of your colon. If the doctor notices polyps or any other issues, he or she will insert a small biopsy or snare device through the colonoscope itself to remove the band/go over biopsy the area.
When Do I Need a Colonoscopy?
Another doctor may refer you to a colonoscopy doctor if you’re dealing with certain symptoms. However, you can also find doctors yourself if you notice certain symptoms. The following symptoms may indicate that you’re possibly dealing with a digestive system issue:
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Recent bowel movement changes
- Bleeding from the rectum
- Blood in your stool
- Anal or rectal pain
- Anemia symptoms
- Weight loss
- Hemorrhoid protrusion irritation or leakage
In addition, you have a higher possibility of developing colorectal cancer if any of the following is true for you:
- Family history of colon cancer or colon polyps
- You have a history of polyps or cancer on a previous colonoscopy
- BMI is 35 or higher
- Smoking
How Long Does a Colonoscopy Take?
In our office, the colonoscopy itself generally only takes around 15 to 20 minutes. However, completing your paperwork and getting ready for the colonoscopy can take up to 30 minutes and there is usually a recovery time of 30 minutes or so. Generally, the newer, modern anesthetics work very quickly and wear just as quickly. Generally, we tell patients to allow about 90 minutes from arrival to departure.
Are Colonoscopies Safe?
There are minimal risks associated with colonoscopies, but the odds of experiencing such complications are extremely low, i.e. 1 in 1000 or less. Remember that doctors safely perform millions of colonoscopies every year. Something else to keep in mind is that experienced doctors are aware of the complications that can occur and plan everything to avoid them and lower the risk. Most doctors can prevent many of the complications by good, careful technique. The more experienced your physician and is generally the lower the complication rate . Make sure you inform your doctor if you’re allergic to any form of anesthesia and/or other medications and/or have any specific particular concerns about your colonoscopy, the safety etc.
How Do I Prep for a Colonoscopy?
You can learn more about how to prepare for a colonoscopy on our site. For now, here are some of the steps that you will need to take before a colonoscopy. Note that these instructions may vary from the specific instructions on the website so please follow the website for instructions the steps noted below are for general purposes only:
- No solid foods the day before or the day of the procedure
- Drink clear liquids only
- Use the specific prep recommended by her doctor there are several types we generally use something called Sutab because it is so effective and easiest to take
- Leave valuables at home
- Wear your usual clothes (you will switch into a gown)
- Tell your doctor about any allergies
- Tell your doctor/nurse about any concerns or information you may want to share prior to your procedure
- Ask your doctor about medications
- Hold medications your instructed to hold and take ones your instructed to take I can see the website for details or ask us directly if your not clear
- Sign the consent forms and complete any paperwork at a time to save time very major
- Let the medical staff know about any concerns you have
How Can I Get an Affordable Colonoscopy With Insurance?
The amount that you pay for a colonoscopy depends entirely on the insurance plan that you have. The best thing you can do is to talk to the facility that will perform your colonoscopy. They should be able to check with your insurance to see what your co-pay will be. If you don’t have insurance, ask for the ‘self-pay’ price. Many physician offices offer discounts to the uninsured. They may also do this if your insurance has a high deductible. In Virginia, routine screening colonoscopy is almost always covered 100% (no deductible or co-pay) as a matter of state law. However, check with your insurance provider to be sure.
Some facilities will tell you that the cost of your colonoscopy cannot be determined. If this happens, choose another facility. The cost of colonoscopy is generally available from most all Gastroenterology offices and in fact ‘transparency’ is now becoming a requirement for many medical services.
Where Can I Get a Colonoscopy Near Me?
You should be able to type “colonoscopy doctor near me” and find plenty of nearby colonoscopy clinics. However, finding the best colonoscopy doctor in your area takes a little something more than a simple search.
Which Doctor Is a Colonoscopy Doctor?
As mentioned, a lot of different doctors can perform colonoscopies. But if you want to get the best colonoscopy, you should go to a gastroenterologist.
Who Is a Gastroenterologist?
A gastroenterologist is a gastrointestinal or GI doctor. They’re specialists in conditions that affect the digestive system. Some of the conditions they treat include the following:
- Bowel habit changes (diarrhea, constipation, etc.)
- Ulcers
- Heartburn
- Pancreatitis
- Hemorrhoids
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Crohn’s disease (type of IBD)
- Ulcerative Colitis (type of IBD)
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
As far as coloscopies go, gastroenterologists perform more colonoscopies than any other specialty. Another specialty that commonly performs colonoscopy are colorectal surgeons. Gastroenterologists are trained about the entire digestive system more than any other specialty. Our office specializes and in fact is limited to screening and diagnostic procedures such as colonoscopy and upper endoscopy. Our office is unique in this way and that we are not actively treating patients, only diagnosing and performing screening and early detection procedures like colonoscopy.
How Does a Gastroenterologist Get New Patients?
Most specialists, such as gastroenterologists, receive new patients through primary care provider (PCP) referrals. In many cases, gastroenterologists will only receive new patients if they get a referral first. In addition, some insurers won’t cover a gastroenterologist visit without a PCP referral. But this isn’t now rarely the case. Some gastroenterologists will accept new patients without a referral. In this situation, you can use a search page to find a gastroenterologist, contact them, and get an appointment. Keep in mind that specialists like these can get extremely busy. The wait time may be 2 or 3 months and some offices. Fortunately, in our practice, since we narrow our scope of practice to screening diagnostic and preventative, are weight times are less than 7 days in most cases.
What Should I Look for in a Good Gastroenterologist?
A good gastroenterologist should have plenty of experience in the field. Their personality should also make you feel comfortable. Getting a gastroenterologist who explains things in a way you can understand is essential and gives you confidence and trust in the physician. If you can, consider having a consultation video visit with a gastroenterologist or 1 of their nurse practitioners , positioning assistance before you meet them in person. You can evaluate how their demeanor and speech make you feel then.
Google reviews are another excellent source of information on a physicians quality and communication skills. You should look for someone who sufficiently explains the procedure to you and who has a great track record with patient satisfaction.
In addition, you should be able to find a gastroenterologist’s credentials on his or her website. If you can’t find them there, consider asking the gastroenterologist about his or her experience yourself. They should be more than happy to tell you about their experience.
How Do I Find an Experienced Gastroenterologist Near Me Accepting New Patients?
1 of the best ways to find a top-rated gastroenterologist is through word of mouth. About 70% of all people at risk for colon cancer have actually gotten a screening colonoscopy so there are plenty of people in the Tidewater area with experience from the patient side about the quality of care they received. On line reviews from Google are generally reliable and you can tell pretty quickly if someone is being really candid about their experience. You can also check with your primary care doctor to see who they recommend, but we do see a lot of patients who are instead recommended by spouses, family members, friends, coworkers etc. based on their actual experience.
You can also try going to a social media group that’s themed around your local area. You should find such groups on sites such as Facebook and NextDoor. You can ask people on this site to recommend gastroenterologists that they have seen in the past and had a good experience.
Get a Colonoscopy From Us
As you can see, a colonoscopy is the best way (in fact the only effective way) to prevent colon cancer, the second meeting cause of cancer mortality in the US. Colonoscopy is completely painless and safe. If you follow the suggestions outlined above, you will likely find a top-rated doctor to perform your procedure safely and have a good experience as well.
If you live in the Virginia Beach/Tidewater area, consider reaching out to us for a colonoscopy. Check out our Google reviews, we are very proud of them. Dr. Berger and Dr. Beth Jaklic have 55 years of combined practice experience and have safely performed well over 50,000 colonoscopies. We try hard to do the safest possible procedures in a manner easiest for the patients. We promise you the care and treatment you need and expect.
Schedule a colonoscopy by filling out the instructions on this page.
