Accreditation distinguishes Shenandoah Valley Gastroenterology from many other outpatient facilities through its adherence to rigorous standards of care and safety.
Your Right to Decide
A Guide to Communicating Your Health Care Choices in Virginia
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We moved our Harrisonburg office!
Our new address is
3320 Emmaus Road
Harrisonburg VA 22801
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Our phone numbers have not changed. Please call us if you have any questions.
540-437-0087
540-946-1662
The new center of Shenandoah Valley Gastroenterology, PLLC has been accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC).
Accreditation distinguishes this gastrointestinal endoscopy center (a center for colonoscopies and upper endoscopies) from many other outpatient facilities through its adherence to rigorous standards of care and safety.
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LEAD FROM BEHIND ... a humorous view
On a mission to make cancer famous.
Rob and Ryan want to break the stigma and get the word out that colon cancer is preventable.
JMU Athletics Mourns Loss of Tom Kuster to Colon Cancer at 49
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison Athletics is grieved to share news of the passing of Associate Athletic Director for Integrated Health and Sports Performance Tom Kuster, who died Tuesday, May 17, at age 49 following a nearly two-year fight with colon cancer.
Get screened earlier … urges the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society says routine screening should begin at age 45, rather than 50, reflecting the rise of colorectal cancer in younger patients. Learn more:
Did you know that we are a private clinic?
"Small private practices give physicians the ability to provide the best care for their patients and to adapt to changes quickly and effectively," Joseph Anderson, MD, professor of Medicine at Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine in Hanover, N.H.
Dr. Anderson goes on to say, "small private practices are the lifeblood of U.S. medicine, and their ability to survive is vital to healthcare in this country."
We are here in the Shenandoah Valley to help YOU care for your HEALTH.
Our Investment in Your Health
Through our investment in training and the latest technology, the practice of Dr. Pou is dedicated to providing patients with the best environment for preventative and corrective procedures.
Dr. Pou uses Endocuff Vision® by Olympus. This endoscopic device attachs to the distal end of a colonoscope and is designed to maintain and maximize the viewable mucosa during the procedure by manipulating colonic folds. A single row of flexible arms evert and flatten folds to provide an enhanced view of the entire colon. Additionally arms of the Endocuff Vision help prevent slippage during withdrawal, stabilize the scope tip during examination and polypectomy, and reduce difficulties associated with looping.
The animated video below demonstrates how the Endocuff Vision endoscopic device provides you with a safer procedure.
Key Benefits
Improved Control
- Anchors endoscope tip in the lumen during examination and polypectomy.
- Reduces slippage and minimizes difficulties associated with looping.
Improved Application
- Hard plastic body and firm, dry grip on the scope prevent dislodgement and protect distal tip of the colonoscope.
- Hinged arms fit seamlessly into device to create a low-profile design.
Improved Design
- The proprietary hinged design allows the arms to fall flat against the scope for smooth forward movement during intubation.
Improved Visualization
- Upon withdrawal, the uniquely hinged arms expand to gently flatten large mucosal folds, bringing difficult-to-see areas into view.
- Soft, flexible arms provide the right amount of force to be effective without causing mucosal trauma.
Quality of Services
"Quality Matters"
Shenandoah Valley Gastroenterology is a collaborator in the National Quality Improvement Registry [GIQuIC] and measures quality of endoscopy services.
- Two-thirds of colon polyps are the precancerous types called adenomas.
- A higher percentage of adenoma detection rate (ADR) means that there is a lower chance of those patients coming back with a cancerous polyp within 5 years of the first colonoscopy.
- Dr. Pou has a significantly higher percentage of ADR compared to other GI practices nationally, meaning that his patients have a lower chance of developing polyp cancer within 5 years of their first colonoscopy procedure.
- Every 1 percent increase in ADR is associated with:
- 3% decrease in risk of colorectal cancer
- 5% reduction in colorectal cancer death
The chart below shows the percentage of patients aged 50-75 years with at least one conventional adenoma or colorectal cancer detected during screening colonoscopy from January 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021.
Equation: ADR = (Total procedures with adenoma ÷ Total procedures) x 100
The chart below shows the percentage of patients aged 50-75 years with at least one conventional adenoma or colorectal cancer detected during screening colonoscopy from October 1, 2020 to October 31, 2021.
Equation: ADR = (Total procedures with adenoma ÷ Total procedures) x 100
The chart below shows the percentage of patients aged 50-75 years with at least one conventional adenoma or colorectal cancer detected during screening colonoscopy from January 1, 2020 to October 31, 2021.
Equation: ADR = (Total procedures with adenoma ÷ Total procedures) x 100
When it comes to adenoma detection rate (ADR), there's no such thing as too much information (TMI)!
Shenandoah Valley Gastroenterology Center and Dr. Pou are featured in this news article, published by gastroendonews.com on November 10, 2021. The article urges GIs to share quality metrics with patients.
The ADR percentages referenced in the article use the date range 1/1/2020 through 4/30/2021.
Read the articleEmily Couric Memorial Lecture — 2020
Katie Couric presents the Emily Couric Memorial Lecture. A conversation with Ms. Couric follows the lecture.
A change to address the unknown
6 GIs react to U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's recommendation to lower CRC screening age to 45
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force proposed lowering the colorectal cancer screening age to 45 in response to growing early-onset CRC rates. In the news article linked below, six gastroenterologists discuss how the change will affect their practice.
Shenandoah Valley Gastroenterology was the first GI practice to validate the changes in screening colonoscopy to age 45 as seen in an interview of Dr. Pou on WHSV.
Watch Dr. Pou Interview on WHSV Reaction from 6 Gastroenterology PracticesWhy The Rise of Colon Cancer In Young People Is Puzzling Doctors
Mark Pochapin, President of the American College of Gastroenterology, on the latest developments in colorectal cancer research
by Katie Couric
It was devastating to hear about actor Chadwick Boseman’s death from colon cancer at the age of 43. And it hit particularly close to home for me, as my late husband Jay died of the same disease when he was 42 — more than twenty years ago.
One of his doctors was Mark Pochapin, who is now President of the American College of Gastroenterology. He answers my questions on the latest developments in colorectal cancer research and offers advice on how you can protect yourself and your loved ones from the second leading cancer killer in the U.S.
Continue Reading ...Jimmy Kimmel goes to his first colonoscopy with a lot of help from Katie Couric — take a look at this funny video
Make an Appointment for a Screening
Do you know how to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer? The risk of getting colorectal cancer increases with age. Colorectal cancer screening saves lives, but many people are not being screened. The first step is yours … contact our office to make an appointment.
Browse our site for resources and tools. Learn how to prepare. Know what to expect.
Consider this blog by Danny Zollars
Danny Zollars was diagnosed with Stage 4 rectal cancer at the age of 33 and found to have liver and lung metastases. He underwent more than 30 surgeries and other procedures, 28 days of radiation therapy, weeks of hospital stays and months of chemotherapy to combat the disease.
Dr. Pou had the pleasure to meet with this fighter at a GI conference where Danny shared the patient's perspective with doctors. We are saddened to learn that Danny has passed away and wish to pass our condolences to his wife Amy and their daughter Zoe. We keep Danny’s family in our prayers.
Shenandoah Gastroenterology still encourages you to visit Danny’s blog and learn more about his fight with cancer, the in and outs of the medical world and the unique perspective he shared.
