About the Center

Terms of Use / Disclaimer

 

Disclaimer

Thank you for using the Parathyroid Surgery Guide, a service of the Norman Parathyroid Center in Tampa, Florida.

The Norman Parathyroid Center (NPC) is the leading provider of health information and services for parathyroid disorders worldwide. The online educational information and decision support applications we provide help consumers take an active role in managing their health by providing objective, peer-reviewed information on parathyroid function and disease. Our surgical center in Tampa, Florida is dedicated to parathyroid surgery exclusively and boasts the 7 most experienced parathyroid surgeons in the world with the highest cure rates possible via our exclusive 2-surgeon, 4-gland examination. Currently performing over 3700 parathyroid operations annually, our patients come from all 50 states and around the world.

This app was produced using the collective expertise and unparalleled experience gained from consulting with more parathyroid patients than the top 20 US universities combined annually. Each of our seven expert surgeons have contributed to the app’s content. The underlying software behind this app has been developed from the data contained within more than 350 scientific publications by the physicians at the NPC many of which are footnoted within the app or within the supporting website www.parathyroid.com. The information included within the app has been gathered from the experience of over 34,000 parathyroid operations on patients from 8 years to 105 years old.

A primary goal of the app is to provide ALL patients undergoing parathyroid surgery helpful information about what to expect. Primarily, it is designed to help patients having surgery at the Norman Parathyroid Center, and their family, with peace of mind as they travel to Tampa and back home again after their operation.

This app is an educational tool. It is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor and is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis or recommend treatment; rather it is intended to help you understand your personal situation so that you can better communicate with your doctors.

This app aims to help you better understand your parathyroid disease, what it is doing to your body, the long-term effects this disease has on you, and how things are expected to proceed once the disease has been addressed. The app will help you understand what your parathyroid operation will likely entail, and what you are likely to expect before, during, and after the operation. The app is not intended to replace time spent with physicians and nurses who will be taking care of you. The app is a supplement to the personalized care you will receive when having surgery at the NPC.

The results of the tools and content within this app are not actionable and are not intended to provide a medical diagnosis or recommend treatment.  Rather the information and photos are intended to provide you an idea of what is typical and routine, what can be expected, and what sorts of things you may need to be concerned about.

If there is any question, you must error on the side of safety and call to speak to a nurse at the NPC, or with one of your surgeons. You will be provided the cell phone numbers of all 7 surgeons, and you can call the NPC office to speak to a nurse during the hours of 9:00 am to 4:00 pm EST at 813-972-0000. You should not decide to avoid a doctor’s visit based upon the use of this app or the contents included in the app, nor should you avoid calling the NPC office, its nurses, or surgeons should you have any questions. Any medical decisions should be made with the help of a physician or one of the NPC nurses.

You should not avoid any tests that may be recommended by your doctor based upon the use of this app. You should not take or avoid taking any drugs or vitamins based upon the use of this app. All such decisions should be made with the assistance of your physician.

You should not avoid asking for help because of the use of this app. If you believe you need to speak to a nurse or doctor, then you should do so. This app is not intended to take the place of a phone call to a doctor/nurse nor is it intended to take the place of an in-person visit with a physician or nurse should you think it is necessary. Use of this app should not keep you from seeking advice in an emergency room, with your doctors at home, or at the NPC.

This app is not a medical device as defined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This app does not make treatment recommendations other than providing information. This app is not connected to any electronic medical record. This app does not store any personal information about you except your first (or preferred) name if you are our patient. Guests use the app completely anonymously. The app does not know your birth date, insurance information, or any other identifiable information about you. The app does not store any medical information about any patient.

The app is based on multiple credible information sources, including: published guidelines, evidence-based practice, peer-reviewed journal articles, and the extensive experience of the world’s most experienced parathyroid physicians at the Norman Parathyroid Center. Links are provided to more detailed information at www.parathyroid.com and directly to scientific journals.

There is no advertising. Your personal information will never be collected and thus cannot be shared or sold. From time to time we may send you push notifications when you are using our app. If you do not want these notifications, you can manage your preference either through your device or app settings depending on your device type. Notifications may be used to personalized the app for your specific day of surgery, but may also be used at a later time to improve the app, conduct research and analysis, and display content based upon your test results. You can opt out of these notifications at any time.

Having surgery at another institution will be different

There is useful information on this app for all patients undergoing parathyroid surgery worldwide. However it is important to understand that most surgeons do not perform parathyroid surgery the way the surgeons at the Norman Parathyroid Center (NPC) do, and therefor your surgeons will have many different ways of taking care of you before, during, and after your operation. For instance, the NPC surgeons will examine all four glands in almost all patients whereas most other surgeons do not do this, electing to examine only the gland that shows on a scan. We recognize this as a viable approach for surgeons without extensive experience (thousands of parathyroid operations), but we stopped performing parathyroid surgery this way in 2005 because as many as 22% of patients believed to be cured will require another operation within 10 years. Other surgeons typically rely on measurements of blood levels of PTH hormone during the operation to determine when to stop operating or to continue exploring the neck. The surgeons at NPC do not use this test, knowing that it causes many potential problems, will absolutely prolong the duration of the operation by more than double, results in the removal of normal parathyroid glands in most patients, and will result in at least 15% of patients requiring another parathyroid operation within 5 years.

The discussions and information contained within this app regarding the length of the operation, the cure rates, incisions size, type of anesthesia, length of stay in the hospital and your expected postoperative course are specific to patients being operated on at NPC. It is virtually guaranteed that these items will be different for you if you are being operated on by another surgeon. Thus, many of the expectations and information contained within this app will not apply to you. You should expect that your operation lasts at least twice as long. You should expect to be intubated (tube down into your trachea) for anesthesia whereas only approximately 5% of NPC patients are intubated. You should expect to be in the hospital for at least 4-5 hours or overnight whereas the content of this app describes that almost all NPC patients should expect to leave within 2 hours of surgery. Other surgeons typically make larger incisions and will use different bandages. Follow the advice of your surgeon with regards to the bandage and stitches.

Other surgeons have other requirements

Other surgeons have other requirements for their patients. You should always follow the advice of YOUR surgeon rather than the information within this app which was developed for patients of the NPC. If your surgeon has differing opinions or methods, you must always put your trust into your surgeon over the information within this app or anywhere online.

Your surgeon will have different requirements for taking calcium after the operation. You MUST take the advice of your surgeon and not the approach discussed within this app. Look to your surgeon for advice on all these matters.

Terms of Use

By using the information and services within this app, and within the associated websites, you agree to Terms of Use and all applicable laws and regulations.

This mobile app is provided for informational and educational purposes only. This app is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. The app is not intended to diagnose any potential postoperative condition or complication. Health care providers should exercise their own independent clinical judgment when using the mobile app in conjunction with patient care. While the Norman Parathyroid Center and its contributing editors have made considerable effort to provide accurate and up-to-date information, the Center and all associated editors and contributors are not responsible for any errors, omissions, and/or outcomes resulting from the use of this app or the information contained within. You are encouraged to confirm the information contained herein with the originating sources and to discuss all medical aspects with your doctors. You must consult with your surgeon about your specific case–surgical care should be individualized at all times.

Always seek the advice of your physician or other healthcare provider for any issues, questions, or concerns you may have about your health, surgery, or after surgery complications. Some information is written specifically for patients undergoing surgery at the Norman Parathyroid Center and therefore will be different for those having surgery at another institution. Some information may not apply to you if you are having surgery at another institution, and may be in conflict with advice or information given to you by your doctors. Always follow the advice of YOUR doctors over the information contained within this app. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical care/assistance because of something you have read on the parathyroid.com website or from using this app or any of the apps associated with the Norman Parathyroid Center or Calcium Science, LLC.

Use of the material for any other purpose constitutes infringement of the copyright and intellectual property rights owned by the specific owners for the app. By using any of this material, you assume all risks of copyright infringement and related liability. This app and its content may not be reproduced or used for unauthorized purposes without prior written permission, which may be obtained by submitting a written request to: Norman Parathyroid Center, 2400 Cypress Glen Dr. Wesley Chapel, FL 33544. Note this mobile app may contain links to copyrighted work (i.e., scientific publications) created under contract with government agencies, foundations, funding organizations and commercial companies, etc. The Norman Parathyroid Center has the right to change the terms of this policy at any time and without prior notice.

Copyright:  Calcium Science, LLC remains the sole owner and copyright holder of this app. This app contains copyrighted material, trademarks and other information owned by Calcium Science, LLC and the Norman Parathyroid Center and protected under the United States copyright and trademark laws (c). Users of the app may download, print, reproduce, or use materials displayed within for noncommercial, educational, personal or research purposes only, provided that you do not alter the content or any trademark, logo, copyright, author’s name or author’s identity. The app, its services and materials, including text, graphics, images, logos and links, programming code, and software, are provided on an “as is” basis, and the Center and its physicians makes no claims or warranties of any kind, whether express or implied with respect to any service or material. All rights reserved. Use of material within the app for commercial purposes represents an infringement of our copyright and intellectual property rights. By using any of this material, you assume all risks of copyright infringement and related liability.

Indemnity:  By using this app, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Norman Parathyroid Center, its administrators, faculty, staff, employees, agents and all associated contributors, authors and reviewers from any and all claims and damages relating to any charges or demands arising from your use of this app.

Material on this App, and within the website www.parathyroid.com is provided for informational and educational purposes only.

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