An overview of clinical activities in Endo-ERN: the need for alignment of future network criteria.

Objective: Given that volumes of patients and interventions are important criteria to qualify as a reference centre (RC) for the European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions (Endo-ERN), the present study aimed to evaluate the data that were reported in the original application against subsequent assessments of activity and review the criteria that may define RCs using two main thematic groups (MTGs): Pituitary and Thyroid, as examples.

Methods: Review of content in application forms and continuous monitoring data and of a survey distributed to RCs. A list of 'key procedures' for the assessment of performance of RCs was composed with the help of the Pituitary and Thyroid MTG chairs.