How Multidisciplinary Teams Are Reshaping Adult IBD Management: A Narrative Review

Current guidelines strongly endorse integrated multidisciplinary team (MDT) approaches to manage the complexity of patients with IBD. Evidence from formal multidisciplinary case discussions suggests an impact on diagnostic and treatment decisions, while studies of broader integrated IBD services report associations with improved disease control, quality of life, and healthcare utilization. However, implementation remains heterogeneous across centers, with variability in team composition, meeting frequency, referral criteria, and access to specialist services. Future directions include standardization of MDT composition and processes, definition of quality indicators, extension of specialist expertise through hub-and-spoke networks and telemedicine, and integration of patients as active partners in care. Digital tools may support communication and remote follow-up, whereas the role of artificial intelligence in MDT decision-making remains investigational and requires clinical validation. Multidisciplinary care should be regarded as a core organizational principle of modern IBD management. Realizing its full potential will require sustained investment, workforce planning, and prospective research to ensure equitable, high-quality, and sustainable care across diverse healthcare settings.