Our Quality and Safety

Southern Gastroenterology Specialist, PC

Why Safety and Quality Matter

At Southern Gastroenterology Specialists, PC, safety and quality are the foundation of everything we do. Since 1984, we have earned the trust of the Locust Grove, GA community by delivering reliable, high-quality digestive care backed by experienced, board-certified gastroenterologists. Our commitment to strict safety standards, proven clinical practices, and continuous quality improvement ensures accurate diagnoses, effective treatments, and the best possible outcomes for our patients. By prioritizing safety and quality—along with convenient access through same-day and Saturday appointments—we provide care our patients can depend on when it matters most. To learn more, give us a call.


Not all endoscopic procedures are the same. The quality of your endoscopy plays a critical role in accuracy, safety, and long-term outcomes. The guidelines below explain what defines a high-quality endoscopic procedure and why choosing the right provider and facility matters.


Standards for High-Quality Endoscopic Care

  • The physician performing your procedure should be board certified or board eligible in gastroenterology.
  • The facility where your procedure is performed should be certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and licensed at the state level.
  • In addition, the facility should be accredited by a nationally recognized organization, such as the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC).


Our endoscopy centers meet all of these standards. We are CMS-certified, state-licensed, and accredited by the AAAHC.


Transparency and Performance

Your provider should be able to discuss:

  • How often they perform the procedure
  • Their complication rates
  • How those rates compare to national benchmarks


Our physicians openly share this information. We report our performance data to a national registry that benchmarks our results against endoscopy centers nationwide. We continuously evaluate and improve our performance to exceed established national standards for safety and quality.


Quality Measures and Our Performance

The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has established key quality indicators for colonoscopy to improve patient outcomes. Below are some of the measures tracked at our centers:


Cecal Intubation Rate
This measures how often the physician successfully advances the scope through the entire colon.

  • Our screening colonoscopy cecal intubation rate: 99.5%


Adenoma Detection Rate (ADR)
This reflects the percentage of screening colonoscopies in which at least one precancerous polyp is detected. Lower detection rates are associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer.

  • National benchmarks: ≥30% in men, ≥20% in women
  • Our 2015 rates: 51% in men and 39% in women


Cecal Withdrawal Time

This is the average time spent carefully examining the colon while withdrawing the scope. Longer withdrawal times are associated with higher polyp detection rates.

  • ASGE recommendation: minimum average of 6 minutes
  • Our centers consistently exceed this standard and monitor performance quarterly.


Our Commitment to Excellence

We are dedicated to delivering the highest level of endoscopic care by meeting—and exceeding—national quality benchmarks. Through continuous monitoring, transparency, and adherence to best practices, we strive to provide our patients with safe, accurate, and effective endoscopic procedures.