Multi-disciplinary centres/networks of excellence for endometriosis management and research: a proposal

Hum Reprod. 2006 Nov;21(11):2743-8. doi: 10.1093/humrep/del123. Epub 2006 Sep 18.

Abstract

Centres/networks of excellence are the only way forward to ensure that women with endometriosis receive consistent, evidence-based care, ensuring excellence, continuity of care, multi-disciplinarity, research, training and cost-effectiveness. Clinical excellence should be achieved by proper training, adherence to evidence-based guidelines, quality management and continuous measurement of patient outcome as a central focus. To ensure continuity of care, the first step is to assign to each patient a central gynaecologist who must have continuously updated knowledge regarding all diagnostic and management options for endometriosis and who must set priorities and realistic expectations together with the woman using a long-term multi-disciplinary treatment plan. Scientific research within and scientific collaboration between centres/networks of excellence will create the critical mass of patients and tissue samples that is needed to make progress. Centres/networks of excellence should be accredited as training centres by professional bodies. They should aim at improving the cost-effectiveness of the management of endometriosis by a reduction in the time to diagnosis, a reduction in the time before individualized specialist care is invoked, a reduction of expensive hit-and-miss treatments and a reduction in expensive fertility treatments, if the disease is under control before fertility is impaired.

MeSH terms

  • Accreditation
  • Endometriosis / therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Information Services
  • Interdisciplinary Communication*
  • Interprofessional Relations
  • Research / standards*
  • Research Design
  • Treatment Outcome