The Daily Schedule Of An Endocrinologist

The endocrinologist's duties include consulting with their hospital patients on a daily basis until the patients have been handed over to other specialists such as surgeons, who will remove growths on glands or excise overactive glandular tissue, or they have managed the patient's condition to a point where they can be discharged home. This specialist will also have their office located on the hospital grounds to make it easier to see patients in the ward, when there is an emergency situation, and to consult with patients in the emergency department.

Endocrinologists will consult with surgical specialists, as mentioned, and they will also discuss patients with other internal medicine specialties such as cardiology and nephrology where endocrinology conditions can overlap into these disciplines.

Endocrinologists have to provide on call services for the hospital they work at after hours and on weekends. These specialists will manage emergency endocrinology cases such as Addison's crisis, thyroid storm, myxoedema coma and acute hypercalcaemia.

Monday

The endocrinologist will deal with administrative tasks in the morning before they start seeing patients in their rooms. These aspects can include meetings with staff, hospital management and medical representatives as well as dealing with the financial aspects of the practice.

Once these issues have been dealt with, the specialist will start consulting with patients for the day. The endocrinologist can manage patients conservatively, but most of the time the patients will be admitted to the hospital where further investigations can be performed to diagnose the endocrine disorder so that the appropriate management can be started.

Tuesday

Since an endocrinologist has a wide scope of glandular conditions to focus on, they may decide to split the week up into seeing specific endocrine patients.

A Tuesday, for example, can be used to consult and manage patients with pituitary disorders. These patients can be managed conservatively if the tumours are small and benign, or they may be referred to the neurosurgeons if the growths are large, malignant or cause severe symptoms.

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Wednesday

This day can be used to consult and manage patients with thyroid and pancreas related endocrine issues, such as hypothyroidism and diabetes. Most of the time, these patients can be managed conservatively but they might end up being referred to general surgeons who specialise in thyroid and pancreatic conditions, respectively.

Thursday

The endocrinologist may consult with patients with adrenal gland conditions, such as Cushing's syndrome, that occurs due to excessive corticosteroid production as a result of pheochromocytomas. The specialist may have to consult with a general surgeon or urologist to remove these masses on the adrenal glands.

The afternoon would be used for academic purposes where the specialist would offer training to undergraduate medical students and postgraduate clinical assistants.

Friday

At the end of the week the specialist will consult with patients in the morning, and the afternoon will be used to resolve any unfinished administrative tasks. Once all these aspects have been adequately dealt with, then the work week can conclude.