For more than a decade the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG) has undertaken several important initiatives to help ensure high-quality digestive health care for Canadians. Many of CAG’s projects and programs are among the first, across national specialty societies in Canada to:
- Assess Canada’s Gastroenterology workforce
- Publish quality guidelines
- Provide Gastroenterologists with skills enhancement courses nation-wide
- Administrate and manage hospital and clinic Gastroenterology team’s self-assessments and accredited practice audits
Endoscopy is crucial for the effective management of diverse digestive problems, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcer disease and inflammatory bowel disease, as well as the detection, and in some cases, prevention of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. With over 6 million endoscopic procedures performed annually in Canada1 it is essential that patients receive the highest quality care. High-quality endoscopy requires well-trained healthcare professionals working in an appropriate environment with proper equipment to deliver high-quality care that is responsive to patients' needs.
Main Programs of CAG Quality
CAG continues to develop a range of initiatives designed to enhance endoscopic skills for its members. The SEE™ program includes three courses: Colonoscopy Skills Improvement(CSI), Train-the-Endoscopy-Trainer (TET) and the newly-developed Endoscopic Polypectomy Improvement Course (EPIC).
Learn more
The U.K. has led the quality in endoscopy movement since 2004 when Dr. Roland Valori and team introduced the Global Rating Scale – a web-based endoscopy service evaluation tool that evaluates multiple components of endoscopy service from a patient-focused perspective. The GRS has been adapted for Canada and a Canadian website launched thanks to our U.K.colleagues.
Learn more
PAGE allows physicians to review a record of their practice related to selected aspects of health care delivery. In this colonoscopy practice audit, endoscopists record data related to specific aspects of a series of colonoscopy procedures: the data is entered electronically at the point of care in the endoscopy unit. Endoscopists can then immediately review their data online and compare themselves against national results.
1Canadian Institute of Health Information. National Physician Database – Utilization Data, 2015-2016. Available from: http://www.cihi.ca/
