Endocrinology is a branch of medicine that deals with the endocrine system, the organs that are associated with it, the diseases and conditions that may arise from any of the associated glands and organs, and the overall metabolic function of the body.
The endocrine system consists of severalglands, all in different parts of the body, that secrete hormones directly into the blood rather than into a duct system. Hormones have many different functions and modes of action; one hormone may have several effects on different target organs, and, conversely, one target organ may be affected by more than one hormone. Endocrinology also involves study of the diseases of the endocrine system. These diseases may relate to too little or too much secretion of a hormone, too little or too much action of a hormone, or problems with receiving the hormone. Significant Diseases:
Diabetes, Thyroid Disease and Androgen Excess.
What is Tele-Endocrinology?
Endocrinology is a branch of medicine that deals with the endocrine system, the organs that are associated with it, the diseases and conditions that may arise from any of the associated glands and organs, and the overall metabolic function of the body.
The endocrine system consists of severalglands, all in different parts of the body, that secrete hormones directly into the blood rather than into a duct system. Hormones have many different functions and modes of action; one hormone may have several effects on different target organs, and, conversely, one target organ may be affected by more than one hormone. Endocrinology also involves study of the diseases of the endocrine system. These diseases may relate to too little or too much secretion of a hormone, too little or too much action of a hormone, or problems with receiving the hormone. Significant Diseases: Diabetes, Thyroid Disease and Androgen Excess.
Tele-Endocrinology
What is tele-endocrinology?
A less common telemedicine specialty, tele-endocrinologists can virtually treat osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes, and other diseases related to the endocrine glands and hormones.
Tele-endocrinology was put on the map thanks to a Tennessee telemedicine endocrinology study looking at how those in remote areas responded to tele-endocrinology care. For participants affected by diabetes, mean HbA1c decreased from 9.1% to 7.5%. This laid the foundation for tele-endocrinology as a viable specialty.
Why tele-endocrinology makes sense
The CDC estimates that more than 100 million Americans have diabetes, and a quarter of them don’t even know it. (Not to mention the 84+ million who have prediabetes.)
Veterans and those living in rural areas are more susceptible to diabetes and typically the most in need of care. In fact, there's a 17% higher rate of diabetes in rural areas than in urban areas, and diabetes among veterans is more prevalent than in the general population. Considering that many veterans aren’t located in a bustling metropolis with easy access to VA hospitals, patient demand for remote endocrinology is a growing need.
In addition, clinical outcomes for tele-endocrinology are promising. One telemedicine endocrinology study on veterans found that those who were treated virtually had the same health improvement rates as those who were treated face-to-face.