Endocrinology and Neurology Departments
Endocrinology concerns itself with the study of the diseases that affect the thyroid, parathyroid, and pituitary glands. Mainly, the endocrine department handles cases that are related to hormonal issues, but other glands aside from the ones mentioned can fall under the endocrinology department as well. The most common major disorders encountered in the endocrinology department include osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid cancer, and metabolic syndrome (Melmed et al. 2015). These disorders are all under the realm of endocrinology and are often diagnosed, assessed, and treated by physicians and staff members at the endocrinology department. Endocrinological disorders affect a large percentage of the population. These disorders are hormonal in nature, and therefore, subject to a number of diagnostic tests, such as the T3 and T4 assay, fasting blood glucose test, bone density test, and ACTH simulation test (Melmed et al. 2015). The diagnostic tests that were mentioned are pertinent to diagnosing several endocrinological disorders and need to be understood by endocrinologists in terms of process and interpretation. Furthermore, the endocrinology department also uses a variety of procedures for patients with endocrine problems. These procedures are often used when medications are no longer effective in addressing the underlying disease, and are usually surgical in nature (Melmed et al. 2015).
One procedure that is often conducted is the thyroidectomy. Thyroidectomy is the complete or partial removal of the thyroid gland in conditions where the patient has thyroid cancer or hyperthyroidism. A thyroidectomy is also used to reduce the physical appearance of the thyroid gland, such as in cases where the patient has goiter (Melmed et al. 2015). Another procedure is bariatric surgery, which may be performed by a gastroenterologist or an endocrine surgeon. Bariatric surgery is prescribed for patients who are morbidly obese and who need to lose weight with assistance. In addition to this, bariatric surgery is also associated with risks, such as sepsis, bleeding, and scarring resulting from the operation. Lastly, a procedure that is often conducted by endocrinologists is pancreatic surgery. Pancreatic surgery is indicated when the patient has gastrinomas, insulinomas, etc.(Melmed et al. 2015). This type of surgery is less often performed than thyroid surgery, but it is an essential function performed by endocrinologists. Pancreatic surgery may involve larger resections or simple tumor enucleation. Thus, the endocrinology department is tasked with maintaining the hormonal health of patients and visits to an endocrinologist are often warranted when signs of hormonal imbalances occur, such as delayed menses, unexplained weight loss or weight gain, alopecia, amenorrhea, and even changes in mood or emotions (Melmed et al. 2015). The endocrinology department is a vital part of the hospital’s healthcare system and is pivotal for the health and well-being of a portion of the population.
Neurology Department
The neurology department in any hospital is tasked with providing care to patients who have suffered neurological damage. These patients can come from any age group and from any segment of the population. …
