My reason for the poll

[Guest guest]

First, let me thanks those of you have responded to my poll. I would like to encourage more of you to respond -- you have to look well down the list of polls to find mine.

My reason for posting the poll involves something that, in my opinion, may prove to increase the risk to patients undergoing colonoscopies.

In my area, there is increasing interest for doctors to do colonoscopies in their offices because some feel that they "are losing money each time" they do a colonoscopy in the local surgicenters. Apparently, the HMO reimbursement rate causes this "loss."

That said, I am VERY concerned that those of us who have multiple biopsies (in my case I do not have active UC, but the GI I have seen since 1996 still insists on many biopsies) are being subjected to an unnecessary risk by having the procedure done in an office setting. Am I being paranoid? Since I have had two colonoscopies with unpleasant -- and potentially bad -- outcomes, I am concerned that this change in local policy may be the harbinger of change elsewhere.

To this point, no one who has responded to the poll has said that their colonoscopy was done in their doctor's office. I think that's a good sign.

Penny