Everything you need to know about appointments, procedures, and preparation
Call our office at (970) 385-4022 during business hours (Monday-Thursday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Closed Friday, Saturday & Sunday). Our staff will help you schedule the appropriate appointment and verify your insurance coverage.
Screening Colonoscopy: If you're 45+ with no symptoms and no family history of colon cancer
Diagnostic Colonoscopy: If you have symptoms (bleeding, abdominal pain, change in bowel habits)
Upper Endoscopy (EGD): For heartburn, swallowing difficulties, or upper abdominal symptoms
Consultation: To discuss symptoms or treatment options before scheduling a procedure
Hemorrhoid Treatment: For hemorrhoid symptoms - can be done in-office (requires colonoscopy within last 3 years)
Please call us at least 24 hours in advance if you need to cancel or reschedule. Less than 24 hour notice may lead to a scheduling fee. This allows us to offer your appointment time to another patient. Repeated missed appointments without notice may result in discharge from the practice.
We accept most major insurance plans. Call our office with your insurance information and we'll verify your coverage before your appointment. Please bring your insurance cards to your visit.
Telemedicine is appropriate for follow-up appointments, medication management, and reviewing test results. Procedures like colonoscopy and upper endoscopy require an in-person visit. Call us to determine if telemedicine is right for your situation.
The prep involves drinking a cleansing solution that clears your colon. We offer several prep options:
Your doctor will recommend the best prep based on your medical history.
Tips for tolerating the prep:
We use a "split-dose" preparation:
Detailed instructions will be provided when you schedule your procedure.
Day before procedure: Regular food (avoiding seeds and fibrous foods) until 6:00 PM, then clear liquids only
Day of procedure: Nothing by mouth for at least 2 hours before arrival - no water, gum, mints, or candy
Allowed: Water, clear broth, apple juice, white grape juice, Gatorade, coffee/tea (no milk), Jell-O, popsicles
Not allowed: Milk, orange juice, red or purple liquids, alcohol
Yes! If you have questions during your preparation, call our office at (970) 385-4022 during business hours. For after-hours prep emergencies, follow the instructions provided with your prep materials.
Yes! You must have a responsible adult drive you home after any procedure involving sedation. You cannot drive, operate machinery, or make important decisions for 24 hours after sedation. Taxi, Uber, or Lyft are not acceptable - you need a friend or family member.
Plan for approximately 2 hours total from check-in to discharge. The actual procedure takes 15-30 minutes, but you'll need time for check-in, preparation, and recovery.
No. Procedures are performed under comfortable sedation. Most patients sleep through the procedure and have no memory of it. You may feel some bloating or gas afterward, which resolves quickly.
You can eat a light meal as soon as you get home. Start with something easy to digest and avoid heavy or spicy foods for the rest of the day.
Your doctor will discuss preliminary findings with you after your procedure. If biopsies or polyps were removed, pathology results typically take 7-14 days. Your doctor will contact you with complete results.
Most patients can return to normal activities the day after their procedure. You should not work, drive, or make important decisions for 24 hours after sedation.
National Recognition: Ranked in the top 17% nationally by U.S. News & World Report (2025) (AAAHC Accredited since 2001)
High Quality: Superior polyp detection rates compared to national averages
Experience: Over 60,000 procedures performed since 2001. Our dedicated staff have an average tenure of 10+ years, ensuring consistency, expertise, and exceptional patient care.
Safety: Zero infection rate and our providers' complication rates are below national averages
Comfort: Personalized nursing attention, private rooms, fast scheduling
Cost: Gastroenterology surgical centers are more cost-effective than hospital-based facilities, saving significant out-of-pocket expenses
Convenience: Convenient parking, streamlined check-in process, shorter pre-procedure and post-procedure times
Specialized: Focus exclusively on gastroenterology with board-certified gastroenterologists performing procedures, not surgeons
Personalized: Our providers work as a team in the same building - clinic and endoscopy staff collaborate closely to coordinate your care
Quality: Ranked in the top 17% nationally, our quality metrics consistently meet or exceed benchmark quality indicators
Read detailed comparison of endoscopy facilities and cost information
Stay Local: No travel required - world-class care right here in Durango
Community Physicians: Our doctors live and work in Durango full-time
Continuity of Care: See the same providers who understand your history
Comparable Quality: Our polyp detection rates exceed national standards
Convenient: Easy scheduling, no long-distance travel, familiar faces
Our screening colonoscopies consistently achieve better than national average polyp detection rates. More than 80% of detected polyps are small (less than 10mm), meaning we're catching them early.
Yes! We're the only facility in the region offering the CRH O'Regan System for hemorrhoid treatment - a painless, 60-second in-office procedure with no anesthesia required. You can return to work the same day.
Note: Patients must have had a colonoscopy within the last 3 years to be eligible for hemorrhoid banding treatment.
Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans cover screening colonoscopies 100% with no deductible or co-pay if you're average-risk and age 45+. If polyps are removed, it may be billed as "therapeutic" and cost-sharing may apply. Call us to verify your specific coverage.
We offer self-pay options and can discuss payment plans. Surgery center procedures are significantly less expensive than hospital-based procedures, making quality care more accessible.
Co-pays are due at the time of service. We'll verify your insurance benefits beforehand and inform you of any expected out-of-pocket costs. We accept cash, checks, and major credit cards.
The American Cancer Society recommends screening starting at age 45 for average-risk individuals. You should start earlier if you have:
Heart conditions: No - the American Heart Association states antibiotics are not recommended for GI procedures
Artificial joints: No - the ASGE states prophylactic antibiotics are not needed
Your doctor will determine if antibiotics are necessary for your specific situation.
Continue most medications as usual. Specific instructions will be provided for:
Always follow the specific instructions provided by our office.
Most patients can safely have colonoscopy at our surgery center. However, some conditions require hospital-based procedures:
Our staff will review your medical history during scheduling to ensure our facility is appropriate for you.
We use propofol-based sedation administered by a certified nurse anesthetist. Most patients:
Your vital signs are continuously monitored throughout the procedure.
Most polyps are removed immediately during your colonoscopy using specialized instruments. Removed tissue is sent to pathology for analysis. Your doctor will discuss findings and recommend follow-up timing based on the number, size, and type of polyps found.
Normal result (no polyps): 10 years
Small polyps removed: Typically 5 years
Multiple or large polyps: Typically 3 years
Family history or IBD: More frequent surveillance as recommended by your doctor
We follow rigorous ASGE guidelines for endoscope reprocessing:
Our staff is happy to answer any questions you have about your procedure or appointment.