title: The multidisciplinary meeting: An indispensable aid to communication between different specialities.
abstract: Multidisciplinary team meetings (MDT's) form part of the daily work in most hospitals caring for cancer patients as a form of institutionalised communication. The degree of organisation and the type of communication in these MDTs has a direct impact on the quality of patient care provided. One resulting decision from a multidisciplinary discussion is more accurate and effective than the sum of all individual opinions. Other benefits include consistency in the standard of patient management offered, a teaching element for junior doctors and improvement in communication between different specialists. An MDT needs mature leadership to produce a democratic climate allowing for open and constructive discussion. Controversies, which are inevitable within a team who are striving to reach decisions concerning complex situations, therefore require a variety of approaches for dealing with them when they occur. As MDT's are a key component in a professional's routine, it is worthwhile spending time considering the organisations, targets, documentation and collaboration within the MDT.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology-Haematology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, Rorschacherstr. 107, CH-9007, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Oncology, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle CA2 7HY, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ruhstaller
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roe
authors.forename: Beat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thürlimann
authors.forename: Jonathan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Nicoll
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards