DESCRIPTION: 

The Scotland Cancer Center utilizes medical oncologist to care for patients with thyroid cancer. Currently there is not a head and neck specialist or an endocrinologist in the community to support these patients. These patients are in a rural underserved setting, and many are unable to travel to receive supportive endocrine care at Duke Health in Durham. Community health care providers at Scotland Health or in the Laurinburg, NC area caring patients with thyroid cancer are primarily generalists. Without a local head and neck specialist or endocrinologist, access to specialty support is limited and often this rural population is unable to travel to obtain specialty care from Duke Health in Durham due to socioeconomic barriers. Community health care providers at Scotland Health or in the Laurinburg, NC area caring patients with thyroid cancer are primarily generalists. Without a local head and neck specialist or endocrinologist, access to specialty support is limited and often this rural population is unable to travel to obtain specialty care from Duke Health in Durham due to socioeconomic barriers. As medical oncologists at the Scotland Cancer and with primary care providers collaborating in care, knowledge of endocrine best practices is vital to improve outcomes and to improve health equity in this rural setting.

Desired Result: 

Enhance knowledge to improve the health care professionals ability to support and manage the care for patients with thyroid cancer.

Designed to: 

Increase knowledge