Advanced ARIA (Virtual) | December 2022-Breakout #2: The Impact of COVID on the Practice of Gastroenterology

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, Klaus Mergener, past president of ASGE, discusses the impact of COVID on GI practice. He shares his background and experiences, mentioning that he has worked in various practice settings and currently works part-time as a GI hospitalist and as the part-time chief medical officer for Pentax. He starts by answering a question about how newer reps can approach physicians in a way that brings value to the lab. He emphasizes the importance of education and understanding the space they're working in. He also suggests finding a friendly GI provider who can provide on-the-ground experience and building relationships with endoscopy nurses who control scheduling. They then discuss the recovery from COVID and the varying procedure volumes in different regions. Mergener highlights the challenges related to staffing, especially with a shortage of nurses. He also mentions the acceleration of pre-existing challenges in the field, such as decreasing reimbursements and the need for professional management. He concludes by addressing concerns about patient reluctance to seek medical care due to fear of surprise billing. Mergener suggests that patient education is crucial and notes that in his practice, patients are comfortable coming in for screenings. However, he acknowledges that patient behavior may vary regionally. Finally, he touches on the need for increased efficiency in GI practice and the potential impact on innovation and the role of clinicians.

Asset Subtitle

Klaus Mergener, MD, PhD, MBA, MASGE

Keywords

COVID impact on GI practice

Klaus Mergener

GI hospitalist

approaching physicians

value in the lab

education in GI space