Direct Access Colonoscopy Program

The quick and convenient way to schedule a colonoscopy

Direct Access Colonoscopy

Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center’s (PMC) Center for Digestive Health is pleased to offer a convenient and innovative program, Direct Access Colonoscopy, to help speed the scheduling of routine screening colonoscopies. You can schedule a procedure without first having an office visit with a gastroenterologist if you meet these criteria:

Must be aged 45 or over
If you have a family history of colon cancer, are 40 or older and have not been screened
If you have no significant heart, lung, liver or kidney disease (ask our nurse for details)
If you are not on blood-thinning medications other than routine aspirin use (ask our nurse for details)
Must not have a history of stroke or blood clots
Must not have active asthma

Individuals who meet the criteria above can call 609.853.6390, option 2 to make an appointment for a colonoscopy.

Individuals who do not meet these criteria, or those who have specific gastrointestinal complaints, should discuss colonoscopy with their primary care physicians or schedule an appointment to see one of our gastroenterologists prior to scheduling a colonoscopy.

Locations

Facilities where colonoscopies are provided include:

Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center
Stephen & Roxanne Distler Center for Ambulatory Surgery
5 Plainsboro Road, Suite 200
Plainsboro, NJ 08536

Center for Ambulatory Surgery — Monroe
8 Centre Drive
Monroe, NJ 08831

Princeton Endoscopy Center
731 Alexander Road, Suite 104
Princeton, NJ 08540

Princeton Medical Center participates in most insurance plans and Medicare. We work directly with your insurance company to coordinate coverage.

Prep Instructions

Once individuals schedule a procedure through the Direct Access Colonoscopy program, a nurse will give them instructions on how to prepare. Prep instructions can vary by individual, but generally patients prepare the day before the procedure by fasting and taking laxatives to clear their digestive system. Patients can consume clear liquids, but will stop liquids prior to their procedure as instructed. Other instructions, such as stopping medications, may also be provided.

The Day of the Procedure

On the day of the procedure, the patient will arrive at the outpatient facility with a designated driver, as the patient will be unable to drive home after being sedated. One of the participating gastroenterologists will perform the colonoscopy, which involves passing an endoscope through the patient's rectum to find and remove suspicious tissue or growths for further testing. The physician will discuss any findings and instructions with regard to any follow-up care needed with the patient once he or she wakes up. Patients return home the same day and are able to return to work and normal activities the following day.

An Exceptional Team

The Direct Access Colonoscopy team consists of board certified gastroenterologists, anesthesiologists and specially trained nurses. The staff who perform colonoscopies are always focused on your health, safety and comfort.

PMC

Care & Services

Center for Digestive Health

Center for DIGESTIVE HEALTH

609.853.6390

Direct Access Colonoscopy program

609.853.6390, option 2

Colonoscopy – the gold standard in detection

A colonoscopy screening after age 45 is highly advisable, even if you are healthy and have no symptoms or risk factors. By identifying and removing precancerous polyps, this exam can help to detect and prevent cancer.

The Direct Access Colonoscopy Program makes planning this recommended procedure quick and easy.

Peter Dellatore, MD, is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He is graduate of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, where he was most recently a fellow in gastroenterology and hepatology. Dr. Dellatore’s clinical interests are diverse. He has co-authored journal reports and presented at Digestive Disease Week and other professional meetings on topics including hepatic encephalopathy, acute-on-chronic liver failure, EUS-guided liver biopsy, Roux-en-y gastric bypass, esophagitis, and GI emergencies.

Kristina Katz, MD, is board certified and fellowship trained in gastroenterology and board certified in internal medicine. Dr. Katz is a graduate of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed her residency and fellowship at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. She has a special interest in inflammatory bowel disease, liver conditions and women’s health.

Book an Appointment with Dr. Katz

Kheng-Jim Lim, MD, is board certified and fellowship trained in gastroenterology and board certified internal medicine. Dr. Lim is a graduate of Eastern Virginia Medical School and completed his residency and fellowship at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Dr. Lim has special interests in Barrett’s esophagus, celiac disease, hepatitis, pancreas disorders, and reflux.

Monica Saumoy, MD, is board certified and fellowship trained in gastroenterology and board certified in internal medicine and obesity medicine. Dr Saumoy is a graduate of Weill Cornell Medical College and completed her residency, fellowship, and advanced endoscopy fellowship at New York Presbyterian – Weill Cornell. She specializes in minimally invasive and therapeutic GI procedures including: ERCP, EUS, endoscopic resection, and motility procedures.

William N. Segal, MD, is board certified and fellowship trained in gastroenterology. Dr. Segal is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed his residency at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston and his fellowship at University of California San Francisco Medical Center. Dr. Segal has over 2 decades of experience and is interested in a variety of areas including colon cancer and screening, Crohn’s disease, GERD, IBD, IBS, and liver disease.

Eric Shen, MD, is board certified and fellowship trained in gastroenterology. He is a graduate of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, where he also completed his residency and fellowship. Dr. Shen has more than a decade of experience treating patients for digestive disorders, with clinical expertise in enteral stenting, endoscopic mucosal resection, endoscopic ultrasound and gastrointestinal oncology.

Book an Appointment with Dr. Shen

Anish A. Sheth, MD, is board certified and fellowship trained in gastroenterology. A graduate of Brown University, Dr. Sheth completed his residency at the University of Pennsylvania and fellowship at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He is a frequent lecturer on GERD and Barrett’s esophagus, has appeared on national news programs and has co-authored three books on digestive health.

Book an Appointment with Dr. Sheth

Kevin S. Skole, MD, is board certified and fellowship trained in gastroenterology and board certified in internal medicine. Dr. Skole is a graduate of Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, and completed his residency and fellowship at Temple University Hospital. He is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and has won multiple teaching awards for his work with residents and medical students. He is interested in general gastroenterology, with special focuses on colon cancer screening, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, and the microbiome, including fecal microbiota transplant.

Book an Appointment with Dr. Skole