Gastroenterology clinical quality indicators

The clinical quality indicators for gastroenterology are:

 

Colonoscopy

This is the clinical quality indicator for the proportion of our clinicians achieving a 90% completion rate (or caecal intubation rate) in colonoscopy. The caecal intubation rate is the proportion of colonoscopies performed by a clinician where the entire colon is visualised up to and beyond the ileo-caecal valve.

Rationale

Complete examination of the colon is the fundamental objective of colonoscopy, particularly as some colon cancers will be located beyond the ileo-caecal valve.

A 90% completion rate is a requirement for

  • accreditation of endoscopy units by Joint Advisory Group on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
  • accreditation of colonoscopists by the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme

Our objectives

Information anticipated in 2 months.

Comment on current performance

Expected in Summer 2014.

 

Thromboprophylaxis in patients with active inflammatory bowel disease

This is the clinical quality indicator for the proportion of patients admitted with active inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis) who are given heparin thromboprophylaxis.

Rationale

People who are admitted to hospital with active inflammatory bowel disease are three times more likely to develop venous thromboembolism than other hospital in-patients.

Guidelines (published in 2010) by the British Society of Gastroenterology recommend that patients with these conditions are offered heparin prophylaxis.

Our objectives

We aim for all patients with active inflammatory bowel disease to be offered heparin prophylaxis.

Comment on current performance

Expected in Summer 2014.