Parathyroid Surgery Map Tops 18,000 Patients Traveling to Tampa, Florida for Parathyroid Surgery

Despite economy, more patients travel long distances to seek the best surgical care at center of excellence.

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Apr 12, 2012, 09:01 ET

TAMPA , Fla., April 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Parathyroid Surgeons at the Norman Parathyroid Center announced today that they have just exceeded 18,000 patients on their "Parathyroid Surgery Map", documenting where their patients live who had parathyroid surgery at their center. The map is generated via Google Maps and shows how far patients travel to undergo surgery at the world's leading parathyroid surgery center. The map can be seen at: http://www.parathyroid.com/Parathyroid-Surgeon-Map.htm

"Despite the global economy, patients will seek out experts for the best healthcare available for themselves or their loved ones," said Dr James Norman MD, senior surgeon at the center. "Our map shows that people value excellent surgical care and are willing to travel long distances to be cared for at a center of excellence. Interestingly, most patients are referred to us by their local doctor who also recognizes the value in seeking the best surgeon regardless of location."

The Norman Parathyroid Center performs several thousand parathyroid operations for primary hyperparathyroidism per year, believed to be more than 10-fold the surgical volume of any other institution worldwide. The center, located within Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Florida is estimated to perform more than 10% of the parathyroid operations performed in the US each year, and about 78% of all parathyroid operations performed in the state of Florida annually. More than 90% of operations are performed on patients living more than 100 miles from the Parathyroid Center and nearly 65% live outside the state of Florida.

"We average several people per week from Canada who decide to forego their national health system and seek surgeons with more expertise," stated Dr Doug Politz a senior parathyroid surgeon. "We also see a few people per week from other countries from around the world. Our Patient Map shows just how far people will travel with their families to have specialized care."

Dr Jose Lopez, the newest member of the surgical team notes that patients are very comforted by surgeons who do one thing and do it very well. "We don't perform any other kind of surgery, so patients are relaxed because they know they are being treated by experts in the field. Their decision to travel long distances is justified when they have an inner peace about who they have chosen to take care of them or their loved ones."

About Norman Parathyroid Center. Located in Tampa, Florida, The Norman Parathyroid Center is the world's leading facility for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the parathyroid glands and hyperparathyroidism. Parathyroid.com is recognized as the leading authority on hyperparathyroidism, an illness caused by parathyroid tumors located in the neck which affect one in 1000 people causing high blood calcium, osteoporosis, chronic fatigue, depression, and kidney stones, among other conditions.

Media Contact: Callie Williford, 813-972-0000

SOURCE Norman Parathyroid Center