Satisfaction With Multidisciplinary Team Structure and Function in a Pediatric Outpatient Clinic.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare
• Clinical Operations
• Team-Based Care

Background:

• Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) are crucial for managing complex pediatric cases, potentially improving outcomes and reducing costs.
• Systemic barriers to optimizing pediatric MDTs, particularly in spina bifida care, require further investigation.
• Understanding provider perceptions is essential for enhancing MDT effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate provider perceptions of a spina bifida multidisciplinary team (MDT).
• To identify barriers impacting the success and efficiency of pediatric MDTs.
• To inform strategies for optimizing MDT functioning in specialized clinics.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to staff at a single pediatric spina bifida clinic.
• Respondents rated factors for MDT success, satisfaction, and participation barriers.
• Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyze survey data.

Main Results:

• Clinician collaboration (96%) and a clinical coordinator (86%) were vital for MDT success.
• Most staff reported moderate satisfaction, with open communication (77%) and participation (71%) as key components.
• Workflow inefficiency (71%) and inadequate preparation (67%) were significant barriers; many staff were unaware of the clinic's mission statement.

Conclusions:

• Despite reported satisfaction, opportunities exist to enhance the spina bifida MDT model.
• Improving workflow efficiency and establishing a clear clinic mission statement are crucial for staff buy-in.
• Standardized pre-clinic updates and operational collaboration can further optimize MDT performance.