Improving Quality and Safety in the Endoscopy Unit (On-Demand) | August 2023-Guideline

Guideline_ASGE minimum staffing

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The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has developed a guideline on minimum staffing requirements for safe and efficient GI endoscopy. The guideline recommends different staffing levels depending on the sedation type and procedure complexity. It suggests a minimum of 1 endoscopy staff member for routine procedures without sedation, 1 registered nurse for routine procedures with moderate sedation, and 1 endoscopy staff member for procedures with deep sedation or anesthesia provider-assisted sedation. Advanced procedures require a minimum of 1 registered nurse and a second endoscopy staff member for moderate or deep sedation, and 1 endoscopy staff member for anesthesia provider-assisted sedation. Properly trained endoscopy technicians can assist with various tasks. Ongoing training, competency assessment, and evaluation of staffing models are emphasized for patient safety. A survey on minimum staffing requirements for routine and advanced procedures in endoscopy units showed variations in staffing based on sedation type. These findings can help inform guidelines for GI endoscopy units.

Keywords

ASGE

guideline

staffing requirements

sedation type

procedure complexity

endoscopy staff

registered nurse

deep sedation

anesthesia provider

endoscopy technicians