What to Look for When Searching for a Colonoscopy Doctor in DFW
Why it’s Important to Choose the Right Doctor for Your Colonoscopy
- The higher detection rate of precancerous polyps (growths)
- Lower risk of disease progression and death from colorectal cancer
- Lower risk of complications from the procedure
Having a colonoscopy done is a key step in preventing colon cancer. That’s why it’s important to choose the right specialist. A colonoscopy is considered an invasive procedure, so you should feel comfortable with your doctor and trust his/her ability to find possible signs of colon cancer in order to reduce your risk of disease progression. Here’s what to look for when searching for a colonoscopy doctor in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.
A Gastroenterologist
You may be surprised to know that doctors don’t have to specialize in gastrointestinal disease in order to perform a colonoscopy. However, research shows that colonoscopies performed by gastroenterologists prevent more deaths from colorectal cancer. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology revealed that individuals who had colonoscopies performed by a gastroenterologist were at a lower risk of dying from colorectal cancer compared to individuals who had colonoscopies performed by primary care physicians or general surgeons.
A Board Certification
A board-certified physician is a doctor that has completed extensive specialized training in the form of a fellowship and has passed an examination. Moreover, for a board-certified physician to maintain his/her certification, he/she must complete yearly continuing education courses — continuing education reinforces the clinical knowledge and skills of the physician. The combination of specialty training and continuing education ensures the physician is providing patients with the highest quality of care.
A Higher Adenoma Detection Rate (ADR)
The quality of a colonoscopy is measured by its adenoma detection rate (ADR) — the percentage of individuals who have undergone a full first time screening colonoscopy who have had one or more pre-cancerous polyps (adenomas) detected. ADR varies for each physician and is important to consider when looking for a colonoscopy doctor in DFW and anywhere else in the world. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2015 shows that the quality of a colonoscopy is a major indicator of the procedure’s effectiveness. More specifically, a higher ADR was associated with a lower risk of developing colorectal cancer and death from colorectal cancer. The study also examined the overall health costs associated with increased polyp detection. The main takeaway from this study is that a higher quality colonoscopy lowers the risk of dying from colon cancer, without increasing healthcare costs.
Looking for a Colonoscopy Doctor in DFW?
Are you looking for a colonoscopy doctor in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area? Call our office at 1.800.425.3759. Our doctors are highly trained board-certified gastroenterologists with extensive experience diagnosing colon polyps and colon cancer. We have high adenoma detection rates and low complication rates, and we are experts at colonoscopic procedures. Call us today. We are here to answer your questions.
Sources:
https://jonbarron.org/cancer-alternative-cancer-therapies/choosing-right-doctor-colonoscopy
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2320316