What Is Fast Track?
Also known as Open Access, Fast Track enables healthy patients to schedule a screening colonoscopy with Beverly Hills gastroenterologist Dr. Peyton Berookim without the initial pre-op consultation.
Not only does Fast Track save patients time and money, but it also helps ensure that individuals schedule this life-saving procedure.
While Fast Track is a great and time-saving option for many patients, it is not appropriate for everyone. Patients with medical conditions such as coronary artery disease, emphysema, severe asthma, kidney disease, stroke, diabetes or obesity may not be good candidates for Fast Track. If you have one of these conditions, you will likely need to undergo a traditional pre-screening consultation with Dr. Berookim prior to your procedure. Additionally, taking certain prescription medications such as blood thinners may prevent you from undergoing this expedited route.
If you do qualify for Open Access, our office will provide you with detailed information and instructions about your procedure, diet requirements, and bowel preparation. Our staff can also help and provide assistance with insurance verification.
What Are Some Advantages To Open Access?
- Bypassing the inconvenience of scheduling an initial office visit
- Saving expense of initial copay
- Increasing the number of patients pursuing colon cancer screening
What Procedures Are Available as Fast Track?
Colonoscopy:
A Colonoscopy is the “gold standard” for colorectal cancer screening. Prior to the procedure, you will be instructed to drink a bowel prep beverage that will be used to clean the colon before the exam. A tube with a flexible camera and light about the size of a finger and 4 feet in length is inserted into the colon for the procedure. The camera at the end allows Dr. Berookim to visualize and treat tumors or polyps that can develop into colon cancer. Throughout the procedure, you will be under anesthesia and not experience any discomfort or pain. This preventative technique is highly effective in stopping the progression of polyps to colon cancer. It is also used to diagnose causes of abdominal pain, diarrhea, changes in bowel habits, or blood in the stool, among other issues.
EGD (via the request of your primary physician):
An EGD is a procedure in which an endoscope, or thin, flexible tube with a camera and light on the tip, is placed into the mouth and advanced down through the stomach and into the beginning of the small intestine. During the procedure, the patient is under anesthesia and completely comfortable. This technique allows Dr. Berookim to visualize from the mouth down into the small intestine for various pathologies (Barrett’s esophagus, hiatal hernias, ulcers, gastric cancer, and celiac disease). This procedure takes less than 10 minutes and allows the patients to go home as soon as the anesthetic has worn off.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fast Track Procedures
Q: Is it safe to undergo a medical procedure without a consultation?
A: Yes! Colonoscopies and EGDs are regarded as extremely safe procedures. Healthy patients with no pre-existing medical conditions are generally good candidates for open access procedures.
Q: What if I want a consultation before my procedure?
A: Please call the Gastroenterology Institute of Southern California if you would like a consultation before your procedure.
Contact Us About Fast Track Procedures
Fast Track can save patients time and money while ensuring they receive the crucial diagnostic procedures necessary to live full and healthful lives. Please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Berookim’s office at (310) 271-1122 for more information.