Endoscopes are delicate instruments and mishandling them can prove costly. Repair bills range from $300 for minor tuneups to $8,000 for major refurbishments. Never mind the $15,000 you'll drop to get a damaged specialty scope back in working order or the threat to patient safety posed by faulty equipment. Putting damaged endoscopes in the hands of your physicians or staff, no matter how skilled or efficient they are, will render their efforts meaningless. With a nod and a wink to Dr. Stephen Covey, here are my highly successful habits for limiting everyday dings and dents to the 50 endoscopes my staff uses in 7,000 cases each year.