Endocrinology
The Endocrinology Service is a subspecialty clinic and is accessible to new patients by a referral. We provide state of the art, non-surgical care of adult patients with disease processes that include: pituitary dysfunction, thyroid dysfunction, thyroid cancer, adrenal dysfunction, bone/mineral disease such as osteopenia and osteoporosis, and gonadal dysfunction. Patients with diabetes are seen by referral in the Diabetes Center of Excellence at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center (DCOE).
Endocrine glands produce different hormones that travel in blood through the body to cause different metabolic effects on cells or tissues of the body. The major endocrine glands and some of their common disorders are:
Adrenal – Cushing’s syndrome
Ovary – Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Pancreas – Diabetes mellitus
Parathyroid – Hypercalcemia
Pituitary – Prolactinoma, acromegaly
Testis – Hypogonadism
Thyroid – Hyper- and hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer
Procedural Services Performed:
Thyroid nodule biopsy with ultrasound guidance, Dynamic endocrine testing, Osteoporosis screening and management using DXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) to measure bone density.
Types and Ages of Patients:
We see patients who are Active Duty and TRICARE Prime under age 65 as first priority. We will see TRICARE Select and TRICARE for Life over age 65 and patients enrolled elsewhere only on a space available basis. All consults are reviewed before scheduling. Patients are accepted based on reason and appointment availability.
Referral Required:
A consult (referral) from your Primary Care Provider is needed in order to make an appointment with us for consult and appointment availability.
Preparing for Your Appointment
A Medical Visit can be stressful at the best of times. When you are concerned or not feeling well it is very easy to forget the topics that you wanted to address at your visit. A little preparation before your visit will make the time with your provider more productive. You may also want to involve a trusted third party (relative or friend) to assist with information or attend the visit with you.
To Prepare for Today’s Endocrine Visit
Write down your questions or concerns. Include symptoms that you are concerned about: when they started, how long do they last, where they are located, what makes them better and what makes them worse. It is also helpful to gather the following information to help your Endocrinologist know the things that will help them clarify your issues.
- Past and Current Medical Problems (include any identified since your last visit)
- Medications (including OTCs and herbals)
- Surgeries (when, what kind, why?)
- ER visits (when, what for, what was done?)
- Hospitalizations (when, how long, what for?)
- Family history (grandparents, parents, siblings)
- Immunizations (Tetanus, Pneumonia, Flu, Shingles)
- Testing (MRI/CT, labs, Colonoscopy etc)
- Visits to other providers (testing done, new medications and recommendations they made)
- Allergies to medications, or substances
Guidelines