Frequently Asked Questions

A) If you absolutely must cancel your procedure, please do so at least 7 days in advance if at all possible.
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A) Depending on your insurance benefits, you may have a co-payment or deductible amount due before your procedure. This should be brought to the office on the day of your procedure, via a check, cash, or credit card. There is a fee for the facility and a separate fee for the physician services. Please refer to your insurance benefits to know your financial responsibilities. For further questions or concerns please call our billing department at (610) 431-3122, and ask for Lisa or Kathy.
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A) No. We will obtain any prior authorization needed for your procedure for our doctor and the facility, if required.
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Yes. Please bring your insurance card with you each time you come for an office visit or a procedure.
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A sigmoidoscopy views the lower third of your colon, up to 60 centimeters, and is performed in the office without sedation. A colonoscopy views the entire large intestine (colon). A colonoscopy is performed with sedation and requires monitoring of your breathing and blood pressure. Please see more detailed information under Procedures.
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The doctor will speak with you before you go home and give you preliminary results. If biopsies were taken or polyps removed, it will take 4 to 7 days to receive the results from the lab. Once the office has received the results and they have been reviewed, the doctor will both send information to your referring doctor and contact you with the results.
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A) If you have problems with your prep, call the office (610) 431-3122 and a nurse or doctor will advise you what to do. If the office is closed, leave a message so the doctor on call can contact you.
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A) Click on Colonoscopy on this website to see the various prep instructions. Please call the office (610) 431-3122 if you have further questions.
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A) Your colon needs to be clear of stool the day of your test. If you eat solid food the day prior to your test, your bowel is still processing the food and creating stool. If you have stool in your colon during the procedure, this impairs the doctor’s view, resulting in a poor view of the colon, and possibly a repeat of the prep and the test.
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A) Yes. You should take all of your usual medications (including blood pressure medicines) with a sip of water a few hours before your procedure. HOWEVER, ORAL DIABETES MEDICATIONS SHOULD NOT be taken the morning of the procedure (unless instructed otherwise) since you have not eaten. Additionally, YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE ANY BLOOD THINNERS (COUMADIN, PLAVIX) 4-7 DAYS PRIOR TO THE PROCEDURE. You will be given instructions on this when you initially schedule your appointment. If you have further questions, please call the office (610) 431-3122.
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A) Yes. It is okay to still have your procedure if you are taking an antibiotic. If you are running a fever, have a severe cough, or are short of breath, you need to contact the office.
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A) Yes. We want to have a baseline to anticipate any needs you may have during or after the procedure.
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A) Your doctors have determined that it is safe to be off Coumadin for these few days. Coumadin is discontinued so if any polyps are found, your physician can safely remove them. If you have any questions about this, it is best to confirm with your cardiologist or doctor prescribing the Coumadin.
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A) Yes. For your comfort, we do suggest that you wear a tampon.
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A) This allows the nurse to get you checked in, complete the necessary paperwork, and start an IV.
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A) The time varies depending on the length of the procedure and individual recovery time. The average time for a patient to be with us is approximately 90 minutes. We can call your ride on their cell phone when you’re almost ready to leave if you’d like.
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A) Yes. You will be back to normal the day after, so you can return to your usual schedule.
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You can eat and drink normally afterwards, although we recommend starting with a light meal and advancing your diet as tolerated.
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No. Do not work on the day of the procedure. You may return to work the following day provided that your physician has not recommended otherwise. We can provide you with a work form for your employer if needed. You can do work (paperwork, computer, etc) from home after your procedure, but we advise you don’t make any major decisions – you may regret them.
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A) Due to the type of sedation we use, your judgement and reflexes are impaired. Therefore, it is unsafe for you to operate a vehicle or machinery until the day after your procedure. By state law, you cannot take a taxi home or walk home from a procedure where you’ve been sedated.
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A) Polyps are typically removed during the procedure; rarely, their size makes it difficult to remove all of them at one time. This would most likely require another procedure and there may be a few other circumstances when this would be necessary, but usually one procedure is expected. Your doctor will discuss the findings and ongoing treatment plan for you with your family after you have recovered. Additionally, written discharge instructions will be given to you before you leave.
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No. We do not treat children 12 years of age and younger.
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