BE Reschedules
At my current clinical site, I am seeing an unusually large number of Barium Enemas being rescheduled because the patient is not properly ‘cleaned out’ for the procedure. I perform quite a few scout x-rays for this exam every week just to have the radiologist reschedule the patient for another day of prep. Some patients come in for the exam and have only been preparing for less than 24 hours, which is rarely enough time for the large intestine to be cleaned out. It also seems that some doctors are not in tune with the nature of the prep procedure. I’m hearing stories from patients where the doctor has told them they could eat certain foods that are not clear liquids. I’m fairly confident that it’s true because multiple patients have told me that this doctor said they could eat cottage cheese, which is certainly not a clear liquid. I can’t really understand why this is happening. It’s a waste of time for the patient and the imaging center…
hm, that must really suck for a patient to have to go another day on only clear liquids. Do they do this even if the patient is diabetic or some such thing? I guess they’d have to but still, I think it would really be a drag, esp for a patient who is already dreading it. LOVE the photo choice, btw. brilliant! :)
@gaile: I don’t think being diabetic really matters for this. The clear liquid diet can be water, juices, soft drinks, chicken broth, etc… It would be a real PITA if the doctor who schedules you for this exam doesn’t tell you how to prepare for it…
John, you did not mention if outpatients or inpatients are “messing up.” If outpatients — the scheduling person would do good to adopt a practice of calliing the patient 48 hours in advance … start the call with I am confriming your appointment for date such and such and then review the proper bowel prep procedure with the client. Good communication should reduce those rescheduling headaches from improper bowel preps. While true it is the ordering doctor’s responsibility … your clinic and your radiologist time is being impacted (no bun intended) and a proactive approach by your clinic staff will reduce the noncompliance of the prep.
If an inpatient, the the nursing staff should know better regardless of the doctor’s order and should obtain a proper diet and prep oder. A call to the nursing unit supervisor from the radiology department supervisor should reduce your problems.
I know you are ‘just the student’ but if you feel comfortable presenting this idea to whomever runs the department, I think it would be a great idea, Sure it will take ‘”their time” to make the calls, but lost revenue from not being able to complete a procedure should over-ride that time concern of their staff.
@steve: These are all outpatients during my current clinical rotation. I have been told by my co-workers that this particular doctor has been advised of the issue several times and nothing has changed. I’m definitely not in a position to rock the boat, and I don’t intend to.
Calling the patient 48 hours in advance is also usually impossible. This particular doctor will see a patient one morning and order a BE the very next morning, so the patient doesn’t even know 48 hours in advance.