ABSTRACT
We are currently living in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic that imposes a significant stress on health care providers and facilities. Europe is severely affected with an exponential increase in incident infections and deaths. The clinical manifestations of COVID-19 can be subtle, encompassing a broad spectrum from asymptomatic mild disease to severe respiratory illness. Health care professionals in endoscopy units are at increased risk of infection from COVID-19.âInfection prevention and control has been shown to be dramatically effective in assuring the safety of both health care professionals and patients. The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (www.esge.com) and the European Society of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Nurses and Associates (www.esgena.org) are joining forces to provide guidance during this pandemic to help assure the highest level of endoscopy care and protection against COVID-19 for both patients and endoscopy unit personnel. This guidance is based upon the best available evidence regarding assessment of risk during the current status of the pandemic and a consensus on which procedures to perform and the priorities on resumption. We appreciate the gaps in knowledge and evidence, especially on the proper strategy(ies) for the resumption of normal endoscopy practice during the upcoming phases and end of the pandemic and therefore a list of potential research questions is presented. New evidence may result in an updated statement.
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/transmission , Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/standards , Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional/prevention & control , Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient/prevention & control , Pneumonia, Viral/transmission , Risk Management/standards , COVID-19 , Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control , Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/methods , Humans , Pandemics/prevention & control , Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control , Risk Management/methodsABSTRACT
The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) and United European Gastroenterology present a list of key performance measures for endoscopy services. We recommend that these performance measures be adopted by all endoscopy services across Europe. The measures include those related to the leadership, organization, and delivery of the service, as well as those associated with the patient journey. Each measure includes a recommendation for a minimum and target standard for endoscopy services to achieve. We recommend that all stakeholders in endoscopy take note of these ESGE endoscopy services performance measures to accelerate their adoption and implementation. Stakeholders include patients and their advocacy groups; service leaders; staff, including endoscopists; professional societies; payers; and regulators.
Subject(s)
Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/standards , Quality Improvement , Quality Indicators, Health Care , Safety/standards , Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/adverse effects , Equipment and Supplies/standards , Health Facilities/standards , Humans , Informed Consent/standards , Leadership , Patient Comfort/standards , Patient Education as Topic/standards , Patient Participation , Patient Selection , Privacy , Referral and Consultation/standards , Workforce/standardsSubject(s)
COVID-19 , Gastroenterology , Vaccines , Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal , Humans , SARS-CoV-2Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections , Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Humans , SARS-CoV-2 , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) and United European Gastroenterology present a list of key performance measures for endoscopy services. We recommend that these performance measures be adopted by all endoscopy services across Europe. The measures include those related to the leadership, organization, and delivery of the service, as well as those associated with the patient journey. Each measure includes a recommendation for a minimum and target standard for endoscopy services to achieve. We recommend that all stakeholders in endoscopy take note of these ESGE endoscopy services performance measures to accelerate their adoption and implementation. Stakeholders include patients and their advocacy groups; service leaders; staff, including endoscopists; professional societies; payers; and regulators.