Medical Gastrointestinal Specialists

The Merrimack Valley Endoscopy Center (MVEC) ambulatory endoscopy center specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Since 2002, our facility has been home to several of the area’s leading gastroenterologists and has been accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Healthcare (AAAHC) and licensed by Medicare.

Our endoscopy center staff has been recognized for our commitment to delivering quality and safe patient care and awarded the Excellence in Professionalism Award by the American Board of Certification for Gastroenterology Nurses (ABCGN).

The Importance of Screening and Early Detection

This year approximately 140,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Over 50,000 deaths will occur from this preventable disease. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the U.S.

If you are 50 or older, being screened for colorectal cancer could save your life. If a close relative has had colon polyps or colon cancer, or if you have inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis, your risk of colon cancer may be higher. Speak to your doctor about when to begin screening.

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How to Schedule a Procedure at the Merrimack Valley Endoscopy Center

Your Primary Care Physician’s (PCP) office will request an appointment for you, and a member of our staff will contact you to schedule a convenient appointment.

After you have scheduled your appointment, you will receive instructions in the mail describing the necessary steps to prepare for your procedure.

In order for your physician to perform your endoscopy and provide you with the most accurate results, it is very important that you follow the directions exactly as written.

If you have any questions about the prep instructions, please call us at 978-521-3235. If you do not receive the instructions at least three days prior to your appointment, please contact us.

Insurance Information

We accept most health insurance plans. Although most insurance pay for endoscopy procedures we ask that, you please check with your insurer for your specific coverage. You may contact us with any questions Monday through Friday, 7am to 3:30 pm at 978-521-3210.

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http://Tel:978-521-3210PROCEDURES PERFORMED AT MVEC

• COLONOSCOPY is considered the “gold standard” in the diagnosis of colon diseases. This is the most effective way to detect and remove colon polyps that often develop into cancer. On the rare occasion that the colonoscopy is unable to be completed due to strictures or other anatomical anomalies, we are able to perform a VIRTUAL COLONOSCOPY (CT colonography) to evaluate the portion of the colon unable to be examined during the colonoscopy.
• EGD or esophagogastroduodenoscopy (“upper endoscopy” or “gastroscopy”) is useful in diagnosing many GI disorders such as GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease), Barrett’s esophagus, peptic ulcer disease and celiac sprue.
• ESOPHAGEAL DILATION for esophageal strictures, which occur for many reasons and can frequently, are relieved with dilation. This procedure is done during an upper endoscopy.
• BRAVO® pH MONITORING is performed to evaluate the frequency and duration of acid reflux. The test is used to confirm if the patient’s symptoms are caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This procedure is done during an upper endoscopy.
• SMALL BOWEL ENTEROSCOPY is an endoscopy used to diagnose disorders of the small bowel.
• SMALL BOWEL CAPSULE ENDOSCOPY is a vitamin pill-sized video capsule that records internal images of the gastrointestinal tract. It enables the gastroenterologist to examine areas of the small intestine that cannot be seen by other types of endoscopy.
• PROCEDURAL SEDATION
  • Anesthetic Solutions provides a team of board certified anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to safely administer sedation for our patients. Propofol has been found to be superior to other forms of sedation in terms of patient tolerance, providing appropriate level of sedation and shorter recovery time.

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Quality Outcome Measures

We routinely compare our quality performance to the national American Society Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) benchmarks:

 

Patient Satisfaction

• 97.3% of our patients rate our facility 4 or 5 (1- “very poor”, 5-“very good”)

Accreditations/ Licensure/ Quality Assurance

• Accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
• Licensed by Medicare
• Participate in the Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR)
• Member of the Ambulatory Surgical Center Association (ASCA)
• Member of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA)

AWARDS:

American Board of Certification for Gastroenterology Nurses (ABCGN) Excellence in Professionalism Award- a designation awarded to a single facility each year who demonstrates a high level of professionalism among the nursing staff.