Approaches for Transitioning to Multidisciplinary Cancer Care Teams

Mark S. Soberman, MD, MBA, FACS, 2017-2018 president of the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), discusses various approaches that can be used to integrate multidisciplinary healthcare programs into various healthcare settings, following a panel discussion during the ACCC 44th Annual Meeting & Cancer Center Business Summit. A multidisciplinary cancer care program can help in better meeting the needs of patients with cancer by integrating a number of specialists into the determination of a whole course of treatment for a patient.

There are 3 important steps to introducing an integrated cancer care system into any setting. First, this cannot be managed unless there is a will to do so, Soberman said. Understanding the importance of an integrated cancer care team can help in convincing providers that this is important.

Second, having a champion on the team who is already passionate about this will impact the transition process. Having even 1 person join the team who is already passionate about multidisciplinary cancer care can be a key element to a smooth transition, Soberman explained.