GI Consult Information

During the day (0700 to 1630 or so) someone will be at the Endoscopy desk, 422-1092 if you wish to ask us questions on scheduling, want to know who the Gastroenterologist is for the day, other non critical questions. Craig or Angela, the clerks can bring questions they can’t answer to Lessie or to the GI doctor or transfer your call or your person to the correct information source.

If you have an inpatient you wish to present to the gastroenterologist, please call x 1092 or come by endo, or you can even page Lessie to coordinate with the doctor (pager 5-327).

Routine GI consults – you all know how to enter a consult already.

On evenings, nights, weekends or holidays, please send a GI consult for non emergent needs. For emergent GI consult , there is a procedure to be followed:

1. Contact the RNOD, pager 5-151, and ask him/her for the GI Doctors contact number. Call the IGA gastroenterologist and present your case.
2. IF there is to be a Endoscopy procedure done on the off hours, please ask the GI doc when he /she is coming so you can tell the RNOD the patients name, the doctors name and the procedure to be done. The RNOD then calls the GI ON-Call Nures/Tech to alert them of the need to come in and when.
3. The patient MUST be in the ICU for the procedure. (There is a posted policy type note in ER for any emergent food impactions and how to send them out if that is what must be done to expedite their care and they do not need to be admitted).
4. The IGA doctor may ask you to get a procedure consent prior to them coming to save time. If it is to be a consent by family or POA, be sure to get it before the IGA doctor comes.
5. ICU nursing staff may ask the resident to give them an order for the VERSED and FENTANYL as they need an order in CPRS and often the IGA docs will be in a hurry and some of them don’t ever order drugs at the VA, so that is helpful to do prior.
6. Place a fee-basis GI consult for off hours procedures.

The GI ON-CALL staff person(nurse or tech) is always carrying the GI cell phone in the evening and weekends. It is 573-9647, but remember that is NOT the doctor, it is the person who will assist the gastroenterologist. During the weekday day time call x 1092.

Also the GI cell phone is NOT for PICC line needs. PICC line calls must go through the PICC nurses who are also Protime nurses at x 1344. PICC nurses do not place or repair PICCs on weekends or off tour hours. PICC’s here at the VA are not for emergency access. PICC repairs go through the RNOD.

Lessie is the charge nurse in ENDO and doesn't mind people paging her if there is something simple. She can usually be reached here in ENDO through x 1092 or even at home if need be, just ask the RNOD for her number.