Summary: Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) is a cost-effective, efficient, and minimally invasive alternative to thyroidectomy for treating goiters. It reduces downtime, preserves thyroid function, and offers higher patient satisfaction. Here’s why clinicians should consider RFA:
- Cost-Effective: RFA costs 55% less than surgery and provides better long-term value.
- Efficient: Takes only 60 minutes per procedure, allowing clinicians to see more patients.
- Effective: 78% initial success rate with lower complication risks than surgery.
- Legitimate: Recognized by the AMA with a CPT code for insurance reimbursement.
- Low Learning Curve: Clinicians can become proficient after 20 procedures.
Partner with STARmed to offer goiter treatment without surgery and provide better patient outcomes.
If given the option between an invasive surgical procedure and a minimally invasive in-office treatment, which would you choose?
Goiters impact about 5% of the United States population. Thus, there is a desire for a goiter treatment without surgery. One effective option has emerged and is slowly but surely gaining popularity among patients and practitioners alike: Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA).
RFA is an effective, efficient, and affordable way to shrink goiters without surgery, saving practitioners time without compromising patient outcomes. In this blog, we’ll explore the benefits of this non-surgical goiter treatment for patients and clinicians alike.
Continue reading to learn how to get rid of goiters without surgery and attract new patients seeking a less invasive treatment option.
Why Should Clinicians Offer RFA Thyroid Goiter Treatment?
In the United States, more than 150,000 thyroidectomy surgeries are performed annually. That’s 150,000 individuals who face scarring, complications, recovery time, and the need for lifetime thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Patients are actively seeking alternatives that provide results with less downtime, saving them money while improving their quality of life.
A minimally invasive, cost-effective option with a low rate of complications exists. RFA is one solution that is gaining traction nationwide. We’ll explore the benefits below.
RFA is Cost-Effective
Foremost, radiofrequency ablation is more cost-effective than thyroidectomy for goiters. Recent studies from Columbia University suggest that surgery costs 55% more than RFA goiter treatment without surgery.
In thyroidectomy, the largest cost drivers are operating room costs, anesthesia, and postoperative hospital stays, which are not necessary for RFA. Ultimately, adopting RFA in an outpatient setting can help optimize resource utilization.
Furthermore, RFA yields better long-term value. RFA provides more quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) at a lower cost. Thyroidectomy provides $912 per QALY, while RFA provides $778 per QALY.
RFA is Efficient
Those costs not only apply to patients but also to the practitioners who invest significantly more time into performing outpatient surgical procedures. A lobectomy takes approximately 132 minutes per procedure, compared to RFA, which takes only 60 minutes. Clinicians can see significantly more patients per day and eliminate the need to travel between facilities.
RFA is Effective
There are considerable benefits for goiter patients, too. Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) preserves healthy thyroid tissue and requires little to no downtime. It’s also suitable for higher-risk patients for whom surgery may not be an option. That includes senior citizens, who may have many quality years left to enjoy the results of the procedure.
According to recent research, RFA has a 78% initial success rate. If the nodule does not shrink sufficiently, a second session is performed. There are currently 200+ clinical articles worldwide demonstrating the efficacy of RFA treatment.
Additionally, postoperative complications such as recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury and hypothyroidism are more common in thyroidectomy patients than in those receiving RFA. There is an overall complication rate of 2.38% for RFA, with major complications accounting for a scant 1.35%.
However, Radiofrequency Ablation is not the only treatment that can potentially shrink goiters without surgery. Other options, such as Microwave Ablation (MWA), do exist.
With that said, RFA is more effective at treating the thyroid than MWA. According to a study done by Dr. Lim and his team, RFA showed a higher VRR at 12 months compared to MWA. RFA patients also have a lower regrowth rate than those treated with MWA.
RFA is Legitimate
RFA is also affordable and more accessible for patients. Recently, the American Medical Association granted Thyroid RFA a CPT procedure code for streamlined insurance coverage and reimbursement. This facilitates efficient claims processing, and leads to higher and more predictable reimbursements for providers.
Clinicians offering treatments with dedicated CPT codes may have a market advantage over procedures that can only be reimbursed using unlisted codes. It can help attract more thyroid patients seeking a covered and reimbursable non-surgical treatment alternative.
Furthermore, this code signifies that the AMA recognizes the RFA procedure as a legitimate medical service. There has never been a better time for practitioners to offer radiofrequency ablation for goiters to their patients.
RFA has a Low Learning Curve
The electrodes used in the RFA procedure are smaller, thinner, and more agile than those used in similar ablative procedures. They offer lower energy delivery and more predictable ablation margins compared to MWA, for example.
The equipment allows for greater control and safety near sensitive structures. That makes RFA a simple procedure for clinicians to adopt successfully, including those with less experience in thermal ablation.
Furthermore, another study on RFA adoption found that a stable treatment efficacy in RFA for thyroid nodules is achieved after approximately 20 procedures. This suggests that less experienced practitioners can attain proficiency over a brief time period. Structured training programs, mentorship, and adherence to established guidelines facilitate the most favorable patient outcomes.
Thus, adopting RFA into your clinical practice only requires a modest time commitment. The sooner you begin learning, the sooner you can offer goiter treatment without surgery to your patients.
Partner with STARmed to Offer Goiter Treatment Without Surgery
At STARmed, our RFA solutions have been helping patients for over two decades. Today, our STAR Support program offers real-time case support, marketing support, and reimbursement support for new and experienced RFA practitioners. We want to help you reach more patients using the most clinically proven equipment available.
It’s time to give your patients the option of goiter treatment without surgery.
Are you ready to get started? Learn more about RFA for Thyroid, then connect with us to adopt this treatment in your practice.
