McGuire VA Hospital Endoscopy Suite
The Endoscopy Suite at the VA Medical Center is a
busy place to work. We have 5 GI nurses, 1 LPN, 1 technician, 11 GI
fellows, 8 attending physicians, 5 research nurses and 4 secretaries.
Our procedures consist of EGD’s, colonoscopies, ERCP’s, liver
biopsies, paracentesis, endoscopic ultrasound, flexible
sigmoidoscopies, remicade infusions, biopsies (hot and cold), APC,
retrieval of foreign bodies, dilations (balloon and savory), manometry,
pH, placement and removal of PEG and PEGJ feeding tubes.
We do most of our procedures in the suite, but do
go to one of our three ICU’s if necessary with our mobile carts.
Our extensive research program is carrying out
clinical studies of Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, liver cancer,
antibiotics with abdominal surgery, GERD, HCV, polyp follow-up, and
pravastatin with increased cholesterol in liver disease. We enroll
non-veterans in all of our studies. The nurses assist the
investigators on some of the research studies by the GI Section Chief,
Dr. Mitchell Schubert. If you know of anyone who may benefit from any
of these studies, the study coordinators can be reached at
804-675-5584.
We have 3 procedure rooms, one of which is
lead-lined for fluoroscopy. The fourth room is used for paracentesis,
manometry, pH studies and liver biopsy. We perform approximately 3500
procedures per year.
We also are involved in setting up preps for
patients, assisting them with their coumadin usage, follow up patient
satisfaction post procedure, and making sure the reports are properly
configured with correct name and social security number. The nurses
also spend a lot of their time with patients on the telephone
following up on their procedures and giving instructions prior to the
appointments.
We have a great group of nurses and physicians
that work well together. Our secretary staff is excellent. The
support they give the medical staff is above and beyond their assigned
duties.
We are proud of the care that we give our patient
population.
Margaret Davis, RN
