Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Yes. Please follow your physician’s instruction for this procedure. Please contact your physician’s office for a prescription or instructions.

You should not eat anything after midnight. You may have up to 1 cup of clear liquid four hours prior to your scheduled arrival time at KBEC.

No. The Center is fully staffed with Board-certified anesthesiologists to ensure that your procedure is comfortable.

You will be at the Center approximately 2 hours in total. You will spend less time at the center by making certain you are punctual for your appointment. Arriving earlier than your appointment time won’t necessarily get you through faster, while arriving late will probably cause you to lose your scheduled time slot and create substantial delays for you. Completing the required paperwork (available on-line or by mail) prior to your arrival, will expedite the process.

Yes. The Center requires that you have an escort to take you home.

Yes. KBEC is an independent entity and has no connection to your doctor’s office.

We can provide you with an estimated out of pocket cost which includes:

• The fee for the Endoscopy Center
• The fee for anesthesia services

To receive your quote, please contact the Center at 212-889-5477 and ask for the Billing Coordinator or the Billing Supervisor. They can best assist you with the procedure cost quote.

You must contact your physician for the physician’s professional fee

Yes. Co-Payments will be collected at the time of your visit. We will bill your insurance company or HMO directly for the Center’s services. Please contact your insurance carrier to obtain information regarding what your responsibility is in an Ambulatory Surgery setting and for Anesthesia Services. You will also be billed for your in-network deductible and co-insurance. Your insurance company determines this amount. It is important that you are aware of your out of pocket cost. **

**Please note that some insurance companies may send payment directly to you for the facility and anesthesia service. We expect that you will forward this payment and any balance directly to KBEC.

In general, you can continue to take prescribed medications before and after gastrointestinal endoscopy without modification. Please take all medications on the morning of your procedure. Medication should be taken with a small amount of clear liquid. Please contact your physician if you are on aspirin, blood thinners and diabetic medications. Your physician will give you specific instructions regarding these medications. If you are unsure if the medications you take fall into these categories, please ask your physician.

In general, aspirin, anticoagulants and other blood thinners should be stopped at least 3 days prior to your procedure. This is to reduce the chance of bleeding if biopsies are obtained or polyps are removed. There are, however, important medical circumstances in which these medications must NOT be stopped. If you have any questions about stopping these medications, consult your primary physician.

In general, diabetic medication should not be taken on the day of your procedure. There are, however, important medical circumstances in which these medications must not be stopped. If you have any questions about stopping these medications, consult your primary care physician. A finger stick blood sugar will be obtained by the KBEC staff to ensure proper management of your blood sugar during your procedure. When the procedure is over and you have resumed a normal diet, your usual diabetic regimen should be resumed.

With rare exceptions, the procedures performed at KBEC do not require the administration of prophylactic antibiotics. If, however, you are advised by your physician to take antibiotics prior to gastrointestinal endoscopy, you may take them orally, 1 hour prior to the procedure, with a small amount of clear fluid. If you are uncertain if you require anti-biotics prior to your GI Endoscopy procedure or if you need a prescription, please call your doctor prior to your appointment.

If you are pregnant, you should consult with your physician about whether you should undergo gastrointestinal endoscopy. If you are a woman of child-bearing age, KBEC will administer a pregnancy test prior to your procedure in order to optimize your management.

In general, women who are breast feeding may safely undergo gastrointestinal endoscopy – the administered anesthetic is not excreted in significant quantities in breast milk. Some mothers elect to store milk via a breast pump and feed the child with the pumped milk on the day of the procedure. Normal breast feeding may resume the following day.