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Endocrine Society releases practice improvement module focused on thyroid nodules
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The Endocrine Society has released its first practice improvement module, The Evaluation of Thyroid Nodules PIM, to address imperative patient care needs, according to a press release.
Currently, the evaluation of thyroid nodules to detect cancer involves clinical examinations, ultrasound and other imaging modalities. However, levels of care vary, leading to more or less than recommended options for patients, according to the press release.
“Thyroid nodules are found in approximately 5% to 20% of adults upon random screening, and it’s important to evaluate these nodules to detect possible thyroid cancer,” William F. Young Jr., MD, president of The Endocrine Society, said in the press release. “The Society’s new [practice improvement module] will improve patient care by instructing practitioners on the optimal approach to thyroid nodules, and preventing delays in recommended diagnosis and therapy.”
Susan Mandel
Susan Mandel, MD, MPH, professor of medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine and director of clinical endocrinology and diabetes at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, among those who helped develop the practice improvement module (PIM), recently spoke to Endocrine Today about the importance of this PIM.
“The PIM will allow practitioners to identify their own knowledge gaps, giving them the opportunity to improve their evaluation, diagnosis or management of these patients,” Mandel said.
According to a press release from The Endocrine Society, upon completion of the PIM, providers will be able to:
- Evaluate the endocrinologist practice structure and processes to determine the extent to which they support the delivery of quality care;
- Develop and implement a self and/or practice-wide improvement plan to advance patient care;
- Assess the practice performance of the endocrinologist on quality indicators through patient chart review;
- Describe the recent advances relevant to the care of patients with thyroid nodules;
- Effectively assess and evaluate thyroid nodules by learning the adequate work-up for treatment; and
- Determine when a thyroid scan or fine needle aspiration of a thyroid nodule are recommended and how to interpret the results.
“We reviewed evidence-based guidelines, we came up with a number of discrete measures and worked with researchers to sort out the ways you can objectively ask questions, capture data and give people metrics so they can understand where there are maybe successes in their practice or perhaps opportunities for improvement,” Mandel said.
For more information on The Evaluation of Thyroid Nodules PIM, go to: www.endoselfassessment.org.
Disclosure: Mandel was on the task force that developed The Evaluation of Thyroid Nodules PIM and has received research support from Veracyte and honoraria from Genzyme.