Multidisciplinary Model for Liver Tumors

Abstract

The multidisciplinary approach to patient care is widely utilized in many healthcare settings today, as we are now living in an era where patient-centered care is being recognized as a quality measure by government and regulatory agencies. In the management of liver tumors, multimodality therapy is often necessary and it is only through the comprehensive multidisciplinary approach that patients are afforded the most current and up-to-date therapeutic options. The traditional scenario for multidisciplinary care has been a tumor board-type setting; however, this often results in fragmented and physician-centered patient care. A newer, more formalized approach is a clinic and conference combination over a one- or two-day period. In this setting, the patient undergoes radiographic/laboratory testing and history and physical examination in the morning, followed by consultation with a multidisciplinary team of specialists in the afternoon. This approach has been found to be beneficial to healthcare providers and patients and is quickly becoming the preferred model in caring for patients with malignancies.