Northland Gastroenterology is a member of Integrity Health Network (IHN), a regional independent practice association dedicated to improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of care delivered to the patients in our region. Dr. McKee served as the first Chairman of the Board of Governors at IHN and has been instrumental in influencing the policies of that organization. Further, Northland Gastroenterology was the first practice in northern Minnesota to track quality metrics in endoscopic procedures and report those outcomes to a national registry (Digestive Health Outcomes Registry in conjunction with the American Gastroenterological Association). Over the last two plus years and over 2,000 colonoscopies no patients have had complications requiring surgical or endoscopic interventions. The rate of reaching the entire length of the colon, the cecal intubation rate, over that period has been 99.6% which markedly exceeds the average for gastroenterologists and, of course, even more so non-gastroenterologists performing colonoscopies. Our rate for identifying precancerous polyps (adenomas) at colonoscopy also exceeds that of published averages for experts in colonoscopy. This is key, as the rate of polyp detection has been shown to correlate with the reduction in future colon cancer risk. Not all colonoscopies are the same.
You want a board certified gastroenterologist with proven outcomes performing your procedure.
Dr. McKee performs most of his Duluth cases at Lakewalk Surgery Center which provides a superior patient experience while charging at least a third less than what surrounding hospital outpatient surgery departments charge for the same service. (See ownership disclosure in patient forms)