Frequently Asked Questions

Endoscopy Center at St. Mary was established in 2006.

There is a joint venture between Endoscopy Center of St. Mary (ECSM) and St. Mary Medical Center. ECSM is located directly on the campus of St. Mary Medical Center, yet is financially independent of the medical center and has its own administration that governs day-to-day operations. Choosing a location in direct proximity to a major medical center was intended to benefit the patients who may require a higher level of care, and ECSM works closely with St. Mary administration to assure consistent quality medical performance.

We are one of a few Bucks County endoscopy centers that is located on a major hospital campus.

Yes, Endoscopy Center at St. Mary is licensed and accredited.

We are committed to closely following the quality guidelines established by the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), and are reviewed on a regular basis. Our current reviews include:

• Pennsylvania Department of Health State Licensure Survey September 30, 2020 approved licensed through October 31. 2021
• Pennsylvania Department of Health Life Safety Survey October 15, 2020
• Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) May surveyed 2019 – approved through 2022

We have three procedure rooms with 12 beds and perform more than 5,000 procedures including colonoscopy, dilation, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and upper endoscopy at the center annually.

Currently, our waiting room is not being utilized with Covid-19 precautions in place. Patients will be asked to wait in their vehicle until a nurse calls to have you enter our center. To view our Covid-19 procedures, please watch the following video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PExlpExObP8&feature=youtu.be

Yes. Regular self-parking is free, and for added patient convenience we also offer complimentary valet parking. With Covid-19 precautions in place, we are currently not offering valet parking.

Endoscopy Center at St. Mary is a joint venture between 2 colorectal surgeons and 2 gastroenterologists affiliated with St. Mary Medical Center.

The Gastroenterology Group, P.A.
• Craig R. Barash, MD
• John A. Volpe, DO
• Milind Vaze, MD

The Center for Colon and Rectal Health, Inc.

• Richard S. Goldstein, MD
• Anne-Marie Marcoux, MD

Yes, there is one female physician on staff at ECSM. Dr. Anne-Marie Marcoux is board certified with the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery and has more than 20 years experience in her field. She has been with ECSM since 2006.

Requests are honored based on each patient’s medical needs.

Currently, we have three endoscopy technicians, eleven registered nurses, two clerical staff, a clinical director, and administrative director, for a total of 17 support staff members.

We welcome patients from all over Southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Patients can be referred to ECSM by primary physicians and specialists from St. Mary Medical center, as well as those who are not directly affiliated with St. Mary Medical Center.

No, a physician referral is not always required. You may contact the office directly to learn more about our Open Access Scheduling. One of our nurses will review your information and let you know your procedure options.

We participate with a variety of insurance carriers including (AETNA, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Bravo, Cigna, Medicare, Tricare, and United Healthcare.). If you have questions about your insurance carrier, please call our office at 215.750.7700

We work out payment options with each patient on an individual basis. In addition, we accept cash, check, VISA, MasterCard, Novus, and American Express cards.

Endoscopy means to look inside.

Endoscopy is a procedure that looks inside the body using an endoscope — a flexible viewing tube with lenses. The scope has a small camera with a light on one end. Through fiber-optic technology and a video computer chip, the endoscope allows the physician to examine the inside of the body by transmitting an image to a video screen.

We offer several procedures at the ECSM including colonoscopy, dilatation, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and upper endoscopy. All are used to detect and resolve any abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to cancer screening, endoscopy is also used to remove foreign bodies from the airways or gastrointestinal tract, to check for areas of abnormal bleeding, and to perform minor surgical procedures.

• Colonoscopy: A colonoscopy allows a physician to examine the lining of the colon (large bowel) for abnormalities. A flexible tube is inserted through the rectum and slowly advanced through the colon as the physician checks for polyps and other abnormal structures. Generally, polyps are removed and sent for biopsy. Tissue samples of the colon lining may also be collected and sent for laboratory analysis.

• Dilation: There are a number of dilating techniques available to the physician. Simple bougie dilatation may be done in the office, in a sitting position, and with only an anesthetic spray of the throat. If endoscopy is performed at the same time, then it will be done in the endoscopy suite, usually under sedation. If X-ray fluoroscopy equipment is needed, the procedure is performed in the X-ray unit. Simple bougie dilatation may take only a few minutes. The other techniques require 20 to 30 minutes. Recovery is usually quick and the patient can soon begin eating and drinking to test the effectiveness of the treatment.

• Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: This procedure allows the physician to examine the lining of the rectum and a portion of the colon (large intestine) by inserting a flexible tube about the thickness of a finger into the anus and slowly advancing it into the rectum and lower part of the colon.

• Upper Endoscopy: An upper endoscopy is the examination of the upper part of your gastrointestinal tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (first portion of the small intestine). The physician will use a thin, flexible endoscope that will allow him or her to view images from the patient’s gastrointestinal tract on a high definition video monitor.

The length of preparation time differs by patient, procedure, and physician. Some physicians offer a half-day preparation in which you can prepare in the morning and have the procedure completed in the afternoon. The average recovery time is about 45 minutes, depending on the individual patient’s medical condition and specific needs.

Upper Endoscopy
The only preparation for the upper endoscopy typically is that you will have nothing to eat or drink for at least 6 hours prior to the start of the procedure. You will be asked to arrive 30-45 minutes prior to your scheduled procedure time. After the procedure you will be in recovery for approximately 45 minutes. We generally tell our patients to allow 2 hours for the entire process.

Colonoscopy
The preparation for the colonoscopy usually begins the morning before. Preparation instructions are given to you by your physician’s office. Generally you will have only clear liquids the day before your test. You will be given a strong laxative to clean out your colon. The day of the procedure you will be asked to arrive 30-45 minutes prior to your scheduled procedure time, and after the procedure you will be in recovery for approximately 45 minutes. We generally tell our patients to allow 2 hours for the entire process.

No. Patients should not drive for at least 24 hours after their procedure. We require a family member or friend to take patients home.

Recovery time varies by the patient. We keep all patients who have received sedation a minimum of 30 minutes after the procedure. You are not allowed to drive or do any activity that requires coordination or balance for 24 hours after the procedure. Most people are able to return to work the day after the procedure. Generally patients are allowed to resume a normal diet after their procedure; however you will be given instructions specifically written for you before you are discharged, and they will address these issues based on the specific findings of your procedure.

Regular endoscopy screenings can help with detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions. The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy encourages everyone over age 50, or those under 50 with a family history or other risk factors, to be screened regularly for colorectal cancer. For more information please visit our Resources and Links.

According to the Colon Cancer Alliance, a colonoscopy is recommended every 10 years. However, regular screening varies per patient based on age, family medical history, and individual findings.