PURPOSE: To describe the colorectal cancer-screening program at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, a large multispecialty medical group, in which nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) perform screening flexible sigmoidoscopies. DATA SOURCES: Scientific literature, consensus statements and guidelines, and the protocol utilized to train NPs and PAs to perform flexible sigmoidoscopy. Data from 9,500 screening procedures are presented. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with gastroenterologists, trained NP and PA endoscopists perform screening flexible sigmoidoscopy with similar accuracy and safety but at lower cost. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Screening flexible sigmoidoscopy performed by NPs and PAs may increase the availability and lower the cost of flexible sigmoidoscopy for colorectal cancer screening.
PURPOSE: To describe the colorectal cancer-screening program at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, a large multispecialty medical group, in which nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) perform screening flexible sigmoidoscopies. DATA SOURCES: Scientific literature, consensus statements and guidelines, and the protocol utilized to train NPs and PAs to perform flexible sigmoidoscopy. Data from 9,500 screening procedures are presented. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with gastroenterologists, trained NP and PA endoscopists perform screening flexible sigmoidoscopy with similar accuracy and safety but at lower cost. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Screening flexible sigmoidoscopy performed by NPs and PAs may increase the availability and lower the cost of flexible sigmoidoscopy for colorectal cancer screening.
Authors: Anne F Peery; Toshitaka Hoppo; Katherine S Garman; Evan S Dellon; Norma Daugherty; Susan Bream; Alejandro F Sanz; Jon Davison; Melissa Spacek; Diane Connors; Ashley L Faulx; Amitabh Chak; James D Luketich; Nicholas J Shaheen; Blair A Jobe Journal: Gastrointest Endosc Date: 2012-03-16 Impact factor: 9.427
Authors: T R Levin; F A Farraye; R E Schoen; G Hoff; W Atkin; J H Bond; S Winawer; R W Burt; D A Johnson; L M Kirk; S C Litin; D K Rex Journal: Gut Date: 2005-06 Impact factor: 23.059