How time flies. Ten years ago on December 10, 2001, Berks Center for Digestive Health (BCDH) was just starting out with eight dedicated and hardworking staff, two procedure rooms and a lot of high hopes. In its first year of operations, BCDH had just over 5,000 patient visits to its facility. In the last three years, BCDH has seen over 11,000 patients each year. The tremendous growth is an indicator not only of the need for endoscopy services but also the excellence of the service provided.

BCDH has definitely expanded access to high quality GI care in Berks County, PA and that has had a positive impact on the well-being of its residents. In the ten years it has been in operation, BCDH has distinguished itself amongst ambulatory endoscopy surgery centers in a number of ways. “We are very proud of the quality of care we provide at BCDH. It is documented that we provide some of the best care possible to our community,” states Dr. Louis La Luna, Medical Director of the facility and President of the Pennsylvania Society of Gastroenterology.

Dr. Louis LaLuna, Medical Director BCDH and President, PA Society of Gastroenterology

“When we meet as a medical staff and review quality indicators such as infection rates, patient satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness, we find that our facility is a top performer in comparison to like facilities. That takes a lot of work, and we are fortunate to have a great team of professionals here locally and at Physicians Endoscopy who are committed to excellence.” BCDH has never had a post-procedure infection reported. Patients consistently report either “very good” or “excellent” on 90% of satisfaction surveys when asked to comment on the care received. The comfort and convenience of the facilty, as well as the compassion of the staff further enhance the feeling of safety and security that the patients have when visiting. BCDH always strives to give a high quality, unique experience. The physicians and staff of the Center and the professional practice associated with it are very active in community service in Berks County; they seek to spread the word about colon cancer prevention. The primary outlet for education in the community and service activities is through the American Cancer Society (ACS). The group actively participates in and sponsors ACS’s Relay for Life, Daffodil Days, and Concert for a Cause. ACS gives the group a stage from which they can share their message of the importance of colon cancer screening, and the group has taken advantage of that. BCDH’s administrator, John Gleason, MMHS, CASC, CMPE completed a two-year stint as the President of the ACS’s Volunteer Board inSeptember. “We were recently recognized as the recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award bestowed by President Barack Obama for ‘helping to address the most pressing needs in [our] community and our country.’ This is one of our greatest sources of pride and achievement. The ACS’s local service arm nominated our group for the award as a result of many years of sponsorship and participation in their events for the purpose of fighting cancer. Working with the ACS fits our mission and exemplifies how BCDH is making a difference in the community.”

BCDH will continue in this partnership and others in an effort to prevent disease and give back to the community it serves.

Dr. La Luna shared, “We feel fortunate to live and work in the Berks County community and look forward to many more years of service to its people.”