A leading gastrointestinal medical society has recognized Memorial Medical Center’s Special Procedures unit as part of its program dedicated to promoting quality in endoscopy in the United States.

The nonprofit hospital is the first gastrointestinal unit in Springfield and one of only 17 in Illinois to receive the Endoscopy Unit Recognition from the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), said Jennifer Harris, Memorial’s administrator for surgical services.

The recognition is the only national program recognizing quality and safety in the practice of GI endoscopy.

“This honor reaffirms the commitment of our staff and physicians to keep the patients we serve at the center of all we do,” Harris said.

The recognition program honors endoscopy units that have demonstrated a commitment to patient safety and quality in endoscopy as evidenced by meeting the program's rigorous criteria. The application process required submission of policies, credentialing, staff training and competency assessment, and quality improvement activities.