In their study “Building the Multidisciplinary Team for Management of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma” researchers Naugler, Alsina, Frenette, Rossaro, and Sellers (2015) discuss the importance of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) for the selected patient group. Their rationale for this approach to management for this population rests in the fact that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a two-pronged diagnosis requiring treatment of the cancer and underlying cirrhosis (Naugler et al., 2015). These two conditions come with competing mortality risks which “no single provider is equipped to deal with all of these patients’ needs adequately” (Naugler et al., 2015, p. 827).
Therefore MDTs have emerged as a means for providing optimal care for such patients with regard to care coordination, clinical course reassessments, and make adjustments to treatment plans (Naugler et al., 2015). The authors observe that resources for HCC patient care may differ from site to site, meaning that an MDT represents “a wide spectrum of clinical practices” which can address those variable resources (Naugler et al., 2015, p. 827). The bulk of the article offers a blueprint for establishing and utilizing an MDT for HCC patient care. Given that MDTs have been shown to limit adverse events, improve outcomes, and enhance both patient and employee satisfaction (Epstein, 2014), it is unsurprising that this approach to care would be used in such a complicated patient group.
In the writer’s own nursing practice, MDTs have enabled a critical appreciation for the benefits of teamwork and a way of addressing and managing complicated patient groups. A collaborative approach has also demonstrated to the author how the strengths of different disciplines complement one another. Epstein (2014) notes that MDTs counter the silo effect by facilitating communication between different levels and aspects of healthcare. This has given the author a greater appreciation for how the group works together to reduce adverse events and enhance patient safety, which improves patient outcomes.
