title: The nuclear medicine therapy care coordination service: a model for radiologist-driven patient-centered care.
abstract: We developed a longitudinal care coordination service to proactively deliver high-quality and family-centered care in patients receiving radioiodine therapy for thyroid cancer. In an iterative, multidisciplinary team manner, a pretherapy consultation service, which included scripted interactions, documentation, and checklists for quality control, evolved over time into a robust patient-centered longitudinal care coordination nuclear medicine service. Radiation safety precautions, the rationale for therapy, and management of patient expectations were addressed through the initial consultation, and discharge and posttreatment care were managed during subsequent follow-up. The patient-physician relationship created during longitudinal nuclear medicine therapy care is one tool to help counteract the growing commoditization of radiology. This article describes the process that the nuclear medicine specialists in our department established to enhance radiologist value by providing both exceptional thyroid cancer treatment and continuity of care.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, 1364 Clifton Rd NE, Room D125A, Atlanta, GA 30322. Electronic address: vmoncay@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Valeria M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Moncayo
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, 1364 Clifton Rd NE, Room D125A, Atlanta, GA 30322.
authors.forename: Kimberly E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Applegate
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, 1364 Clifton Rd NE, Room D125A, Atlanta, GA 30322.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duszak
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, 1364 Clifton Rd NE, Room D125A, Atlanta, GA 30322.
authors.forename: Bruce J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Barron
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, 1364 Clifton Rd NE, Room D125A, Atlanta, GA 30322.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fitz
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, 1364 Clifton Rd NE, Room D125A, Atlanta, GA 30322.
authors.forename: Raghuveer K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Halkar
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, 1364 Clifton Rd NE, Room D125A, Atlanta, GA 30322.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, 1364 Clifton Rd NE, Room D125A, Atlanta, GA 30322.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Schuster
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009684:Nuclear Medicine Department, Hospital / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes