Screening
Did you know that colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death? And did you know that the average risk of being diagnosed is about one in 19?
Adults age 50 and older without any risk factors, and those with a family history of colon cancer, colon polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease should be screened every 10 years for colon cancer. Colon cancer can be prevented and is most easily treated when detected early.
At EPGI we are dedicated to the prevention and early detection of colon cancer and perform screening colonoscopies on a daily basis. Our highly trained physicians and clinical staff are available to answer any questions and walk you through the screening process. We have many valuable educational resources and perform the procedure in both the comfort of our outpatient ambulatory surgical center as well as the hospital setting.
Diagnostic
In addition to performing screening colonoscopy for the early detection of colon polyps and colon cancer, the physicians at EPGI perform diagnostic colonoscopy to help diagnose common gastrointestinal diseases.
If you’re experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, diarrhea, blood in stool, constipation, unexplained weight loss, among other symptoms, you may be a candidate for a diagnostic colonoscopy.”
Diagnostic colonoscopies are performed by EPGI physicians at our endoscopy center, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network – Cedar Crest, Lehigh Valley Health Network – Muhlenberg, and Sacred Heart Hospital.
Colonoscopy Preparation:
EPGI is pleased to have patterned with, yourPATIENTadvisor, a service that provides our patients with comprehensive colonoscopy preperations instructions, email and phone call reminders, and advisors who can help answer bowel preparation questions during extended hours when our office staff is not available.
Patients are automatically enrolled in the program when a colonoscopy is scheduled. From there, patients will receive either a welcome email or phone call (patients will not receive a phone call if an email address is provided) and a welcome letter in the mail which will arrive in a bright blue envelope. This welcomes patients to their patient advisor, provides contact information, and provides information about when, where, and with who their procedure is scheduled.
From there, patients will receive email and phone call reminders leading up to their procedure at:
- 4 weeks
- 14 days
- 7 days
- 3 days
- 1 day
A link to preparation questions is included in every email if an email address is provided. A paper copy of preparation instructions will be mailed to the patient’s home 14 days prior to their scheduled procedure. These instructions will also arrive in a bright blue envelope.
Any preparation questions leading up to the scheduled procedure should be directed to an advisor at (800) 349-0285 or
support@yourpatientadvisor.com.
Advisors are available:
Monday – Friday 7:00 am – 10:00 pm EST
Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm EST
Sunday 12:00 pm – 8:00 pmEST
Advisors are available in both English and Spanish.
Click here to learn more about Colonoscopies.