Summary: Implementing thyroid RFA can significantly enhance clinical efficiency by reducing surgical prep time, streamlining patient care, and minimizing follow-up visits. Its minimally invasive nature, cost-effectiveness, and quick recovery boost patient satisfaction and practice growth.
Learning a new clinical procedure involves an investment of time. We recognize that is the most precious and finite resource for most physicians. Naturally, you want to ensure you’ll achieve a return on your investment before you commit.
In the case of RFA for thyroid, the time you’ll save by mastering and integrating the procedure is invaluable.
RFA practitioners agree that the time they save in their clinical practice pays dividends. Their patients spend less time under anesthesia and in recovery, and they find they can see and treat more patients in a day. That time becomes more precious as they attract patients seeking the least invasive solutions for their thyroid nodules.
In this guide, we’ll explore how integrating RFA thyroid ablation procedures can help you reclaim your time.
The Efficiency of the RFA Procedure
The minimally invasive thyroid RFA procedure can reduce or eliminate the need for thyroid surgical procedures in many patients.
After RFA, patients return home on the day of their procedure. They typically resume regular activities within 48 hours, often sooner. There is rarely any scarring, and many patients observe visible results in under a month.
While effective, thyroid surgery procedures can be time-consuming for physicians and patients alike. By treating patients in-office with RFA, doctors eliminate travel time and pre-surgical prep time. The result is an improvement in general patient flow.
Here are a few reasons why RFA practitioners spend less time preparing and more time seeing and treating patients.
Thyroid RFA is an In-Office Procedure
Most RFA procedures of the thyroid are performed in the office under ultrasound guidance. As a result, clinicians can see and treat more patients in a day without the need to travel between facilities.
Post-Procedure Care is Minimal
Postoperative care needs following RFA are minimal. RFA also requires fewer follow-up visits than post-surgical patients. This can free up physician’s schedules to see more patients, both in a day and over time.
The Procedure Is Efficient Compared to Surgery
The RFA procedure itself consistently takes under one hour. There is no anesthesia required, which eliminates the need for surgical prep and additional personnel. Post-procedure observation is shorter, and the procedure has a notably low complication rate. Thus, patient flow remains fast and efficient.
Thyroid RFA Streamlines Resource Allocation
The thyroid RFA procedure tends to be more cost-effective than surgery for both patients and providers. Take into account:
- The brevity of the procedure
- The use of local anesthesia
- The speed of recovery
- The use of versatile, adjustable monopolar RFA electrodes
The procedure requires fewer personnel for monitoring, and pre-and post-procedure care.
Furthermore, thyroid RFA often eliminates the need for lifetime medications, reducing the need for extensive follow-up care. As the procedure is minimally invasive, there’s less scarring, improving aesthetic outcomes. Most crucially, this reduces the need for further cosmetic procedures or consultations.
All together, these factors reduce the burden on healthcare systems. Nearly every aspect of the procedure, from marketing and billing to follow-up care, can be handled in the office. As a result, clinicians can more effectively meet patient goals and optimize systems to achieve their own.
RFA Increases Clinician Versatility
A versatile physician is a more efficient and effective physician. Once you prioritize training in RFA, you’ll be able to offer the broadest range of efficacious treatment options. As a result, you can cater to the widest possible patient demographic.
In particular, your skillset will become attractive to those seeking the least invasive treatment options in lieu of surgery. You can anticipate an increase in referrals, as well as an influx of patients seeking second opinions.
RFA has a high rate of patient satisfaction, predominantly due to its minimally invasive nature and quick recovery. Not only does this increase patient retention, but it can boost the growth of your practice with minimal investment. Word of mouth is powerful, and social proof goes a long way.
RFA is still a fairly new procedure. You can become one of the few clinicians qualified to perform the procedure in your area.
Resources and Support for RFA Implementation
The biggest hurdle to optimizing your efficiency is the implementation process. After training, it can take some time before you hit your peak. We believe the process begins with a strong foundation. Building that foundation requires clinical support and resources from experts in the field.
At STARmed, we provide new RFA clinicians with ongoing tools to streamline the implementation process, including:
- Structured procedure training
- Continuing education, including webinar recordings and clinical article recommendations
- Case support
- Reimbursement and billing support
- Marketing support, including market development materials and consultation meetings
We are proud to be the only RFA technology company to offer these exceptional service packages. Our goal is to support practitioners on an ongoing basis. We’re proud to be your trusted partner throughout your RFA implementation journey.
Likewise, we’re happy to answer any questions you have about maximizing efficiency in the clinical setting. Contact us today to learn more about the resources we offer. Plus, discover how to become an effective, efficient, and versatile practitioner.
