Principles of privileging and credentialing for endoscopy and colonoscopy.

Privileging or credentialing for the performance of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy should be based on prior demonstration of proficiency in the performance of these procedures. Proficiency should be substantiated by documentation provided by the applicant from Residency Program Directors, Chiefs of Service, or other members of the teaching faculty who have directly observed the applicant performing endoscopy. Individuals applying for privileges for EGD and colonoscopy should have demonstrated satisfactory completion of an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited training program in adult or pediatric gastroenterology, general surgery, colorectal surgery, or pediatric surgery. Attestation to competency in the performance of these techniques should therefore be provided by the Program Director and, if deemed necessary, by the Credentialing or Privileging Committee at the institution at which these privileges are being sought or by other teaching faculty from the applicant’s residency program. In the case of applicants who already have privileges to perform these procedures and are applying for similar privileges at another facility or for renewal of privileges at the same facility, attestation of competency should be provided by the applicant’s Chief of Service. Maintenance of continued competency is the responsibility of the respective Credentialing or Privileging Committee and should be based on ongoing review of the applicant’s performance by their Chief of Service. These credentialing guidelines are intended to apply to any site at which EGD and colonoscopy are practiced. These guidelines should supplement previously published guidelines by A.S.G.E., A.S.C.R.S., and S.A.G.E.S. More comprehensive discussions of issues surrounding the granting of privileges for gastrointestinal endoscopy are available on the societies’ websites, i.e., www.asge.org, www.sages.org, and www.fascrs.org.