5. How can you improve communication by using the MDT meeting?

The DOCTOR acronym is used to summarise information that can be received from the MDT

Diagnosis and prognosis(generic)
Options regarding treatment
Care plan time scale and follow up
Told-what the patient/carer has been told
Other agencies involved/referred to
Review who, where, when

More information can be found at www.modern.nhs.uk/cancer/primarycare

For all of the above tasks to be completed the patients details and decision to treat need to be recorded and made available for communication to relevant parties.

MDT working leads to better communication between departments and between primary, secondary and tertiary care thus giving a better more consistent service across a network tumour site.

	Because representatives of other departments e.g. diagnosis and treatment, are present at the MDT meeting the next steps in the pathway can be booked quicker, reducing anxiety for the patient and reducing the number of steps taken in the process.
	Within 24 hours of the MDT meeting the diagnosis and treatment plans can be communicated to the GP and patient.
	The decisions of the MDT meeting should be communicated to the patient by a member of the MDT. A named individual should always be identified.

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