Quality improvement of gastrointestinal endoscopy in Korea: past, present, and future

Abstract

The motivation for improving quality of gastrointestinal endoscopy begins with the desire to provide patients with the best possible care. Gastrointestinal endoscopy is an excellent area for quality improvement because of its high volume, significant associated risk and expense, and variability in its performance affecting outcomes. Therefore, the assurance that high-quality endoscopic procedures are performed has taken increased importance. The 'Korean Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Research Foundation' and 'Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy', as ladders in promoting the highest quality patient care, formed endoscopy quality evaluation in 'National Cancer Screening Program' and'Endoscopy Unit Accreditation' in Korea. However, both new systems have not settled down despite efforts of many years and support by the government. In this article, the past and present of quality improvement of gastrointestinal endoscopy will be reviewed, and the future of quality improvement of gastrointestinal endoscopy will be illuminated.