Fiscal year 2007 began with the Portland Veterans Affair (VA) Medical Center facing a growing number of colonoscopy consults with limited appointment slots to schedule these procedures. Increased consults were being generated by a system the VA developed to initiate a colonoscopy consult automatically when a patient had a positive fecal occult blood test (FOBT). As a result, the gastrointestnal providers developed guidelines and obtained administrative support to provide Saturday clinics to reduce the backlog. The goal was to have only uncomplicated patients come on Saturdays. Unscheduled consults grew to 738 very quickly. These were consults older than 30 days with no procedure scheduled. The Saturday clinics required coordination of providers, nurses, technicians, and supplies/equipment. The veterans appreciated the availability of Saturdays so they would not have to miss work as well as the convenience for transportation. The employees appreciated the economic stimulus provided by the overtime. Saturday clinics averaged 20 colonoscopies, with three endoscopists doing the procedures, between 07:30 a.m. and early afternoon. The clinics were organized and coordinated so the patient flow was maintained and satisfaction was attained. The close of fiscal year 2007 showed six consults waiting greater than 30 days to be scheduled, and this was reduced to one by the following week.

Section Description

We are pleased to present the abstracts from sgna's 36th annual course, SGNA: your gateway to opportunity. The diversity of these topics certainly reflects the richness and breadth of our specialty. in keeping with the tradition of the annual course, we hope the following abstracts will encourage discussions for improving nursing practice and patient care outcomes.