Princeton Medical Center (PMC) has launched a new Center for Thyroid & Parathyroid Care, bringing together a variety of specialists to provide individualized, patient-centered care to individuals diagnosed with conditions of the thyroid and parathyroid.
The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck, produces hormones that help regulate the body’s metabolism. The parathyroid is a group of four tiny glands, located beneath the thyroid, that produce hormones to control the amount of calcium in the blood.
An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid or parathyroid disease. Once diagnosed, these conditions can often be successfully treated via monitoring, medication, or minimally invasive surgical procedures that may or may not require an overnight hospital stay.
Patients are referred to the Center for Thyroid & Parathyroid Care by a primary care physician. The center is based at the PMC campus in Plainsboro, bringing together board-certified surgeons, endocrinologists, radiologists, pathologists, anesthesiologists, and specially trained nurses who work with patients to develop treatment plans tailored to their specific needs. A dedicated nurse navigator helps patients and their families understand their diagnosis and treatment plan and coordinates every aspect of their care and recovery.
“The goal of the center is to provide a streamlined transition from diagnosis through recovery, and to facilitate the best surgical quality and safety,” says Paul Frake, MD, co-director of the center, who is a board certified otolaryngologist (head and neck surgeon). “When you are diagnosed with a medical condition that requires specialized care, knowing you are in good hands and have a centralized approach to treatment helps reduce some of the stress.”
“The center provides world-class, patient-centered care,” says Tomer Davidov, MD, FACS, co-director of the center and a board certified general surgeon and endocrine surgeon. “Our experienced team of endocrinologists, endocrine surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists work closely together to provide seamless state-of-the-art medical and surgical care for patients with thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, Graves’ disease, and hyperparathyroidism.”
Visit www.princetonhcs.org/thyroid to learn more about the Center for Thyroid & Parathyroid Care. You can reach the nurse navigator at 609-853-6560 or thyroid.parathyroid@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.