Thyroid Biopsy Specialist Sonographer Program.

This article focuses on a specialized training program at Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, designed to enable experienced sonographers to independently perform ultrasound-guided thyroid biopsies under radiologist supervision. Initiated in August 2011, the program aimed to reduce patient wait times and improve biopsy adequacy rates by delegating this controlled act, traditionally performed by interventional radiologists, to trained sonographers. The program involved rigorous didactic and hands-on training, followed by supervised clinical practice, and demonstrated significant improvements in biopsy adequacy rates—from 74.6% pre-implementation to over 93% by 2016—and a reduction in wait times from 80–90 days to 13 days. This initiative also facilitated workflow efficiency, enhanced sonographer professional development, and allowed radiologists to focus on more complex tasks, contributing to improved patient care quality at the institution.