Government plans to move colonoscopies to clinics

Having a colonoscopy performed in a hospital room could be a thing of the past.

The government is planning to move the regular diagnostic procedure to local clinics.

The move has local doctors concerned about the quality of the procedure if it is done out of hospitals, but the Ministry of Health says patients will get faster, less costly care if it’s performed in a clinic.

CEO of the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network, Bruce Lauckner,  tells 570 News a few things need to be in place before the network could endorse such a move.

“We would have to be assured that the quality of standard could be met. We would have to be assured that there is a relationship with the hospital, it has to be a not-for profit clinic, and it has to improve access to care. So all those things that our residence come to expect that would have to be there first.”

Lauckner adds concerns from physicians are legitimate.

“When ever they (doctors) speak, we always want to hear what they have to say it’s important and their concern is for their patents, who are our residents. Putting quality first is in the interest of everyone.”

The Ministry’s plan is for clinics to first perform cataract procedures followed by colonoscopies and other medical procedures that do not require an overnight stay in a hospital.

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