Your time is valuable! As an academic specialty practice, we review and use information from your referring provider (including notes, lab test results, and imaging results) to optimize the care you receive at your first visit. Our goal is to offer guidance about next steps in evaluation or management the first time we see you.

Also, in many cases, once we have completed our evaluation and stabilized your condition, we can communicate a long-term management plan to your referring provider so you can continue to receive care closer to home.

Your provider can place a refer through EPIC, EPIC Care Link, or a faxed referral. See Refer a Patient for more details and for referral forms.

In general, we request that at least 6-12 months of relevant clinic notes, laboratory test results, and imaging (radiology) results are sent with the referral, unless this information is already available in EPIC.

Specific information may be required based on the condition to be evaluated. Common examples include: a recent A1c test for diabetes, a TSH result and a thyroid ultrasound for thyroid nodule(s), and calcium/creatinine/vitamin D level and DEXA scan (bone density scan) for osteoporosis.

Please visit our Refer a Patient page for specific referral criteria.

All patients scheduled > 2 weeks out are automatically placed on a wait list if they have a MyChart account. If a sooner appointment becomes available, all patients on the wait list are notified by text. The appointment is given to the first person who accepts the invitation. If you are unable to accept the earlier appointment time, or if someone accepts before you do, you will remain on the wait list in case another earlier appointment becomes available. Patients can add or remove themselves from the waitlist at any time.

We also have fast-track and priority slots for urgent conditions. Our scheduling staff and medical director triage referrals into these slots.

If your provider is a UNC Health provider, they can place an E-consult. After a brief chart review, one of our Endocrine Faculty members will place written recommendations in your chart (in EPIC) within 2-3 business days. If the question is too complex for an E-consult, an in-person visit may be recommended.

At this time, we are unable to offer E-consults to providers outside the UNC Health system. However, we are actively working on ways to share our expertise to providers around the state in the near future, including virtual consultations.

CDCES are a critical part of your diabetes management team. They provide individualized nutrition support and instruction/review of carbohydrate counting. They provide detailed diabetes education for everyone from newly diagnosed patients to experienced insulin pump users.

CDCES are also your main points of contact and information for diabetes devices, including insulin pens and smart pens, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), and insulin pumps. CDCES are up to date on the latest technology, and are instrumental in helping you and your provider select appropriate devices, complete specific paperwork to submit to your insurance, and train/monitor on device use.

Our scheduling team and thyroid nodule clinic director review referrals for thyroid nodules. Based on the nodule’s characteristics, and review of your records, they will determine if it’s best for you to be seen in our Thyroid Nodule Clinic or in our General Endocrine Clinic.

If you have been scheduled into our Thyroid Nodule Clinic, which takes place on Fridays, a biopsy may be offered/performed the same day. Please visit our Thyroid Nodule Clinic page for more information.

If you have been scheduled to see a provider in our General Endocrine Clinic, you will receive a thorough evaluation including history, physical exam, and recommendations for next steps. No specific preparation is necessary for your visit. If a biopsy is recommended, it will be scheduled on a separate day.

We strive to see patients with most endocrine conditions as quickly as possible, including fast track and priority slots for urgent conditions.

However, in some cases, the reason for referral is a common endocrine condition that is well-managed by a primary care provider. By managing these conditions, our primary care colleagues help us maintain access for adults who require endocrine consultation and care

Please visit our Clinical Services page for a list of common endocrine conditions that primary care providers typically manage.

There are many reasons that people can participate in clinical trials. Participating in a trial can help others by moving science and medical care forward. For some individuals with a disease or illness, participating in a trial can also allow access to the latest treatment options as well as additional care from clinical trial staff.

UNC Endocrinology has a large clinical trials unit. We welcome your interest!

Please see our Research Page and our listing of Current Clinical Trials.