Streamlining the Multi-Disciplinary Team Meeting: The Introduction of Robust Pre-Preparation Methods and Its Effect...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach is crucial for high-standard breast cancer care.
• Increasing patient numbers and case complexity strain MDT resources and time.
• Optimizing MDT processes is essential for efficient patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the efficiency and productivity of breast cancer multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings.
• To implement a streamlined process for preparing and presenting patient cases within the MDT.

Main Methods:

• Developed a concise MDT template using Microsoft Access™ for real-time data entry.
• Allocated dedicated weekly preparation time for a senior clinician to pre-populate patient results and outcomes.
• Recorded and analyzed discussion times during MDT meetings before and after process implementation.

Main Results:

• Significantly reduced average MDT discussion time (p=0.02).
• Achieved significant reductions in discussion time for postoperative malignant cases (p<0.0006) and benign core biopsies (p<0.0047).
• Demonstrated a significant increase in time allocated to complex radiology cases (p<0.025), indicating better resource allocation.

Conclusions:

• The implemented method effectively improves MDT meeting preparation and presentation.
• Pre-meeting preparation and pre-population of outcomes for simpler cases optimize meeting time.
• This approach allows for more in-depth discussion of complex cases and ensures all patients can be adequately addressed.