Multidisciplinary teams and childhood visual impairment: a study of two teams

Multidisciplinary teams are generally viewed as beneficial in the management of the visually impaired child, yet little is known about them. Two teams were studied. Team A had well-defined functions relating to identification of visually impaired children, co-ordination of services and liaison. Team B had a more general aim of sharing information on a range of ophthalmic issues other than visual impairment. By comparing the two teams, we conclude that a multidisciplinary team is more likely to be effective if it draws its membership from a range of appropriate professions and its functions are focused. Benefits of teams include increased and earlier referral, improved interdisciplinary liaison and collaboration, and speedier and more appropriate implementation of services. Lack of time to participate, particularly by medical personnel, is a problem.