Endoscopy/Gastroscopy - where to book one?

 Am I right in assuming this a hospital only procedure?  Trying to figure out where I might able to get one done locally and thus narrow down potential places.

Not a fan of wading through automated directories or sitting on hold and thus my inquiry.  I also switched from an unlimited plan with WIND mobile to a set amount of daytime minutes with Rogers (just had to get back to the iPhone world), so making numerous calls is also not ideal.

Honestly not sure if a health clinic would offer this amongst all the other services and I honestly cannot recall seeing signage for my previous visit.  I know Courtice Clinic for example does x-rays, ultrasounds, etc.  and the wait times there in the past have been great compared to a hospital setting,

This is the test I am least looking forward too after what I consider to be a brutal experience when I had one done in Cleveland.  I think they gave me a mouse sized dosage of the sedative as I was extremely alert during the procedure.

I'm fairly certain all other pre-op testing should be a breeze.  Still waiting on a more exact date than just "the week of December 19th".  

It's considered a surgical procedure so can't see it being done anywhere but in a hospital setting.  I have had 4 in my life and they were all done in hospital by either a general surgeon or by a GI doc.

 Well I guess that settles that then.  Thanks Tracey.

Just wanted to confirm if it was hospital only.  Now to shop around and see which one has the shorter wait time so I can get it over with.

I've never had to wait very long to get one.  If your doctor puts on the slip that it's needed for another surgery as part of a pre op, they often speed it up.  I had my very first one done within 24 hours of the doctor referring me, you just never know.  LOL

 The order for the procedure is from Dr. Gagner's office and not my family doctor.  I'm honestly hoping that won't cause me any problems being from an out of Province medical facility.  It would honestly be such a pain in the arse to have to schedule a doctor's appointment just for this.

Not going to count my chickens before they hatch though.

Gagner should know whether or not his request is any good in Ontario.  I have a friend in AB and she had her surgery in ON but whenever the ON surgeon gives her a request, it automatically has to be brought to her GP to have it rewritten.  My GP would just let me drop in and the nurse would take to him and he'd redo it, maybe your doc would as well.

Unless you've seen a GI specialist in the past year and can call them directly to book, you will have to. They won't accept Dr. Gagner's paperwork.

In Northern Ontario we don't have many GI docs and we don't see them for scopes unless you have a pre-existing condition.  We see general surgeons for almost everything from soup to nuts.

Then it'll have to be a referral through a GP. A surgeons office won't accept the out of province requisition.

Hi Jeff,

This procedure can actually be done at a clinic, I'm having mine done at a clinic next week - you do not have to have it done at a hospital.

If you have been referred to a GI specialist within the past year, contact that doctor's office directly and ask to schedule a consult with the doctor. You'll see him, show him the paperwork from Dr. Gagner's office and then he'll set up a time for the scope.

If you have not been referred to a GI specialist within the last year, you will need a new referral from your GP. Bring them your paperwork from Dr. Gagner and ask them to send you to someone who can get this done ASAP. I would think a clinic would be faster than most hospitals. It took me about a week to get my GI consult appointment, and then 2 weeks for the scope appointment.

Good luck!