Direct Access Colonoscopy
What is a colonoscopy?
Screening colonoscopy is recommended for everyone over 45 years old even if you do not have any symptoms. Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the US and affected about 1 in 20 people. But thanks to screening colonoscopy, colon cancer is on the decline. Undergoing a screening colonoscopy can prevent colon cancer by detecting and removing precancerous polyps before they turn to cancer.
What is direct access colonoscopy?
Direct access colonoscopy allows for patients without any major symptoms or medical problems to directly schedule a colonoscopy without the need for an office consultation.
Do I quality for direct access colonoscopy?
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You must be 45 years-old or above. If you're younger than 45 years-old but have a family history of colon cancer, please schedule a consultation to determine if you need an early colonoscopy.
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Insurance accepted: PPO, Medicare, or Optum/Healthcare Partners. Other HMOs require a referral from your PCP for a consultation first.
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You must NOT have any significant GI symptoms:
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unexplained abdominal pain
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uncontrolled heartburn
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unexplained nausea/vomiting
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chronic unexplained diarrhea
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rectal bleeding or blood in stool
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difficulty swallow
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unintentional weight loss.
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You must NOT be on any of the following blood thinners (baby aspirin 81mg is ok):
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Coumadin (warfarin)
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Plavix (clopidogrel)
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Xarelto (rivaroxaban)
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Eliquis (apixaban)
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Pradaxa (dabigatran)
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Effient (prasugrel)
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Lovenox (enoxaparin)
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You must NOT have any of the following major medical conditions:
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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Congestive heart failure (CHF).
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Morbid obesity with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 45.
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Recent heart attack or heart stent placed within the last 1 year.
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Recent pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) within the last 6 months.
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Unexplained anemia
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Where do we perform direct access colonoscopies?
Valley Digestive Health Center
Register Now
If you meet all the requirements to register for direct access colonoscopy, please click the following button to register today. Our staff will contact you in 2-3 business days to schedule your direct access colonoscopy.
If you do not qualify for direct access colonoscopy, then please schedule an appointment online or by calling our office at 626-898-4560 to schedule a consultation first.