Context

The benefits to the patient who is cared for by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) have been proven time and time again. However, when there is a team of people caring for a patient, this increases the chances of issues arising both helpful and harmful. With this in mind, the experiences of the Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse in Tamworth, NSW will be described.

Process

When experiences are shared, the opportunities for others to learn from these experiences, both positive and negative, are an invaluable source of information and education. By joining forces and avoiding pitfalls of others experiences, a successful and effective multidisciplinary team approach to patient care can be achieved.
From a regional/rural perspective, it is often difficult to refer a patient to various specialists, regardless of whether doctor, nurse or allied health, as these specialists are either not available locally, have long waiting lists or work in private practice which can create financial hardship. Moreover, if the patient would like a second opinion or further care, this waiting time and lack of specialists can compound both the length of waiting time and the anxiety of the patient. 
Specific and direct referral pathways have been introduced by various departments to reduce waiting times by allowing health professionals triage the patient. Additionally, the referral forms allow for information to be shared between departments/specialists and encourage communication between departments/ specialists. Furthermore, a weekly meeting has been setup between coordinators and allied health to allow for specific sharing of patient information when many members of the team are involved.

Outcomes

Networking and having an understanding of position roles within any given area is vital when working within a MDT. Additionally, communication is of the upmost importance, both with the patient and with each member of the MDT. Working together is the only way forward.