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Patient Resources
About Your Colonoscopy Appointment
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Questions?
For medical emergencies: call 911
For questions about appointment logistics or preparation: call our schedulers at 508-334-8036, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm.
For health/clinical questions or problems before or after your procedure: call our nursing team Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm
- 508-334-8419 (21 Eastern Avenue)
- 508-334-6484 (Memorial Campus)
- 774-442-2154 (University Campus)
- 508-597-2233 (Southborough)
For emergency questions (only after hours), contact the main hospital switchboard at 508-334-1000 and ask for the gastroenterology nurse or provider on call.
Questions About Your Colonoscopy Appointment
Will I get a date and time confirmation?
Given the time of my procedure, when should I plan to arrive and check-in?
How long should I expect to be at my appointment (from arrival to departure)?
When should my ride be ready to pick me up on the day of my procedure?
Will the cost of my procedure be covered under my insurance?
Will I get a date and time confirmation?
If you are signed up for text messages from UMass Memorial, you’ll receive continuous reminders on preparation instructions. You may receive a call to confirm your procedure, location and arrival time.
Given the time of my procedure, when should I plan to arrive and check-in?
In general, you should arrive 45 minutes prior to your procedure to check-in and finish additional steps in advance of your procedure.
Yes! If your prep requires, it is necessary to finish taking the prep five hours prior to your procedure meaning you must wake up in the middle of the night to finish your prep. This may not be the case for all preps.
How long should I expect to be at my appointment (from arrival to departure)?
You could spend between two and three hours in the colonoscopy unit from the time you arrive until the time you depart.
myChart is the UMass Memorial Health patient portal for health information, provider contact options and your latest appointment information.
- Sign up for or log into myChart
- Call the UMass Memorial Health myChart patient support line: 855-UMASS-MD (855-862-7763).
- Email mychartsupport@umassmemorial.org.
- Speak to your provider’s office.
When should my ride be ready to pick me up on the day of my procedure?
Patients typically spend two to three hours at the appointment from drop-off to pick-up. You will be asked to provide a phone number for your ride when you arrive for your procedure. Your ride will be contacted when your procedure is over and it’s time for them to pick you up. You’re allowed a visitor, so your ride may come into the hospital while you’re having the procedure, or your ride may wait in the car. Parking options: {add link here}.
REMINDER: You will receive sedation and require an adult you know to take you home. Uber, taxi, and ridesharing are NOT acceptable unless you are accompanied by a responsible adult (21+). Buses and other public transportation are NEVER acceptable.
You will be given pain medicine and a sedative to help you relax before the procedure. It may take longer than the duration of your appointment for the sedative to wear off. A responsible adult over 21 must drive you home. You should not drive for 24 hours or at least for the remainder of the day.
Will the cost of my procedure be covered under my insurance?
If you’re scheduled or looking to schedule your colonoscopy, contact your insurance company about coverage and copay for the procedure. If your insurance company requires authorization, our office will reach out. Many insurance companies don’t require payment in advance for routine screening colonoscopies, but some insurers may require a copay for colonoscopies or other gastrointestinal procedures.
Learn more about our Financial Counseling services or Medicare criteria for colonoscopy coverage.
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