IMPROVING PATIENT OUTCOMES IN THYROID DISORDERS THROUGH COLLABORATION BETWEEN SURGERY PHYSICIANS, NURSES, PHARMACISTS, AND LABORATORY STAFF

Abstract

This research paper examines the critical role of interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in improving outcomes for patients with thyroid disorders. Given the high prevalence, non-specific symptomatology, and chronic nature of conditions like hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, traditional, siloed care models often lead to diagnostic delays, suboptimal treatment, and significant economic burden. This study argues that a synergistic team-based approach, integrating the unique expertise of Surgery physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and laboratory staff, is essential for effective management. The paper deconstructs the specific and complementary roles of each collaborator and explores practical models for implementation, such as shared care protocols, pharmacist-led clinics, and structured interprofessional huddles. It further analyzes the measurable positive impact of collaboration on key outcomes, including biochemical control, patient-reported quality of life, medication safety, and healthcare utilization. While acknowledging significant barriers, such as professional hierarchies, ambiguous scopes of practice, and misaligned payment models—the research concludes with a strategic roadmap for integration. This roadmap emphasizes policy reform, operational redesign, interprofessional education, and targeted future research to translate the collaborative model into a sustainable, patient-centered standard of care, ultimately enhancing clinical, humanistic, and economic results for this large patient population.