Written by: DR. Warren goldMAN

Emergence Of Specialty Centers And Multidisciplinary Teams

Modern healthcare has evolved into a disease-based effort involving multiple physicians dedicated to treating a common disease from different perspectives. Together, these physicians deliver the full spectrum of available services and options.  Delivering quality complex healthcare requires the close collaboration and frequent communication between the multiple specialists who are part of your clinical team.

In managing the cancer patient - who frequently has five or six highly-trained and usually very busy doctors contributing to his/her care — this interaction is critical. Unfortunately, regular communication between physicians is frequently lacking, which leads to mixed messages; anxiety; unnecessary visits to the hospital; and, often, less then optimal efficiency, with the patient paying the price. To overcome this, the orchestration of a team effort requires a special infra-structure that enables seamless interaction that is best achieved in a close-knit multidisciplinary setting with a fully integrated staff. Visits can be structured with key physician members present in-person or via remote technology so that the patient is fully aware of the common opinion and care plan. Often, key scans can be scheduled the same day and reviewed with the team, and treatment plans presented and implemented.

All treating physicians are on the same page, with consideration of the patients’ time and energy as they go through the ordeal of cancer care. The treatment of metastatic brain tumors is uniquely suited for this model, with Centers that are implementing this model beginning to pop up around the country.