The Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) has introduced the Colonoscopy Recertification Program that provides for recertification every three years. The program aims to encourage practitioners to maintain and develop their expertise in colonoscopy and to increase safety standards and the quality of care being delivered to patients.

The program is consistent with overseas trends in maintaining standards and support for practising colonoscopists.

The program will be independent of the Conjoint Committee for the Recognition of Training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (CCRTGE).

Development of the program has been made possible by funding from the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, administered by the Federal Department of Health.

Application requiremnts

To apply to be recertified practitioners must:-

• be CCRTGE-recognised in colonoscopy;
• perform a minimum number of procedures;
• achieve minimum intubation rates and,
• for older adult patients, achieve minimum adenoma detection rates, and from 1 February 2019 achieve a minimum SSA/P detection rate.

To see a full description of the criteria click here or on the Criteria button above.

There are separate criteria for paediatric colonoscopists.

Procedures will be logged online using an electronic log book. To register for an account and logbook please click here or on the Register button above.

A proportion of applications for recertification will be reviewed and/or audited and additional supporting information, primarily on intubation and adenoma detection rates, may be requested at the time of review of an application.

At the successful completion of the application process a certificate will be supplied to the participant. Initially practitioners can apply for recertification as soon as they satisfy the criteria and afterwards may re-apply every three years.

Continuing education opportunities

Proceduralists who are interested in continuing education in colonoscopy are able to attend workshops organised by GESA and, until June 2018, subsidised by the Federal Department of Health. Click here or on the Education button above for more information.

Future directions

Recertification in colonoscopy was developed by GESA initially as a voluntary program to support colonoscopists and to maintain standards. It was consistent with trends internationally to ensure quality in colonoscopy. It was particularly relevant in Australia given the expanded population screening of the Australian Government National Bowel Cancer Screening Program and was supported by the Australian Government Department of Health. Subsequently the Department asked the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality of Health Care (ACSQHC) to develop a safety and quality model for colonoscopy in Australia.

The model incorporates three key elements:-

• a Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard for the delivery of high-quality services;
• certification and periodic re-certification of a colonoscopist’s performance and
• collation and review of indicators and performance targets in accordance with a standard national data set.

As a result of endorsement of the model by all governments from 2019 all hospitals and day services providing colonoscopy in Australia will need to be accredited to the Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard as indicated in the ACSQHC advisory. Facilities will be required to demonstrate that all colonoscopists working in their facility have evidence of certification and re-certification and meet the performance indicators in the standard.