AI-Driven Efficiency and Patient Engagement in Express Colonoscopy Pre-Screening
A Clinical Case Study from Salem Gastroenterology Consultants Using the LEO AI Platform
Lit. No. LG-2026-002 | 492026
April 2026 | Lyons Global®
Abstract
In June 2025, Salem Gastroenterology Consultants (Salem Gastro) deployed the LEO AI Screening and Triage platform to optimize pre-procedure assessments for patients requiring a screening colonoscopy. LEO AI replaced manual staff phone interviews, engaging patients directly via secure conversational AI.
Over 10 months, LEO AI screened 957 patients, with 914 (95.50%) successfully completing their pre-colonoscopy assessments. The average screening time was reduced to 7 minutes and 12 seconds, compared to traditional staff-led calls of 30-40 minutes.
Additionally, 609 staff hours were saved during this period. Notably, 28% of patients engaged the platform after hours or on weekends, increasing accessibility and improving patient convenience.
The financial impact was also substantial. The platform contributed to over $1.3 million in modelled revenue, highlighting a significant return on investment and demonstrating its ability to drive financial growth alongside operational improvements.
This case study demonstrates that AI-powered screening can significantly improve patient engagement, clinical workflow efficiency, and operational outcomes in high-volume gastroenterology practices.
Introduction
Salem Gastroenterology Consultants is a leading digestive health practice in Oregon, specializing in advanced endoscopic procedures and gastrointestinal care. Their services include diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy, esophageal testing, liver disease management, and colorectal cancer screening initiatives.
Like many GI practices, Salem Gastro faced operational bottlenecks related to pre-procedure assessments:
- Long lists of patients awaiting a screening colonoscopy
- Low patient response rates to staff phone calls
- Excessive staff time spent collecting repetitive medical history
- Growing demand for weekend and after-hours patient engagement
To address these challenges, Salem Gastro partnered with Lyons Global to implement the LEO AI Screening and Triage platform, a conversational AI system designed to capture comprehensive patient histories and generate structured clinical summaries without human staff intervention.
Results
Patient Engagement
- Unique users who started the screening: 957
- Completed screenings: 914 (95.50% completion rate)
Efficiency Gains
- Average screening length: 7 minutes 12 seconds
- Traditional calls: 30-40 minutes
- Time reduction: approximately 22–32 minutes per patient
- Total staff time saved in three months: 609 hours
- Labor cost savings calculated separately by the practice
After-Hours Utilization
- Patients screened before 8 AM/after 5 PM: 188
- Patients screened on weekends: 68
This demonstrated that LEO AI facilitated patient engagement during periods when the clinic was traditionally closed, improving accessibility for patients with diverse schedules.
Patient Satisfaction
- 81.2% of patients recommended LEO AI
- 88.8% patient satisfaction rate
- Common patient comment:
“This was really nice. I give this a 10 Star.” (F/ 68 years old)
“LEO language was easy to understand.” (M/ 64 years old)
Device Usage
- Mobile users: 86%
- Desktop users: 13%
- Tablet users: 0.1%
- Most patients accessed LEO AI via iOS or Android smartphones.
Age Range
- 18 – 44 years old: 8%
- 45 – 49 years old: 8%
- 50 – 59 years old: 9%
- 60 -69 years old: 7%
- 70 – 75 years old: 6%
Discussion
LEO AI transformed Salem Gastro’s colonoscopy pre-screening from a labor-intensive manual process into a rapid, digital solution. Key clinical and operational benefits included:
✅ Reduced time burden on staff
✅ Increased patient completion rates
✅ After-hours patient engagement
✅ High patient satisfaction and mobile usability
✅ Operational efficiency gains in clinical workflows
The results demonstrate a scalable model for other gastroenterology clinics that want to improve operational efficiency and patient-centered care via AI-driven solutions.
Conclusion
LEO AI significantly improved operational efficiency and patient engagement during the LEO AI implementation at Salem Gastro. The platform achieved high patient completion rates, substantial time savings for staff, and enabled screening access outside normal business hours.
Salem Gastro’s experience offers a compelling example for adopting AI-driven screening tools across GI practices and other procedural specialties seeking to enhance workflow efficiency and patient convenience.
Strategic Value for GI Practices:
- Faster pre-procedure screening
- Increased capacity without additional staffing
- Enhances patient trust and digital engagement
Authors:
- Salem Gastroenterology Consultants, Salem, OR, USA
- Lyons Global, Granite Bay, CA, USA
References:
- Salem Gastroenterology Consultants. (2026). https://salemgastro.com/gastro/
- Internal platform analytics dashboard (Lyons Global, April 2026)
