Development of a Multidisciplinary Care System for Lung Cancer Patients.
- Author:
Kook Joo NA
1
;
Sung Ja AHN
;
Yun Hyeon KIM
;
Hee Seung BOM
;
Chan CHOI
;
Kyu Sik KIM
;
In Jae OH
;
Sang Yun SONG
;
Song CHOI
;
Yoo Duk CHOI
;
Shin Young JEONG
;
Mee Sun YOON
;
Sun Mi BACK
;
Kang Eun KONG
;
Young Chul KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Clinical Trial
- Keywords: Lung cancer; Multidisciplinary; Electronic Medical Record
- MeSH: Congresses as Topic; Electronic Health Records; Humans; Lung; Lung Neoplasms; Missions and Missionaries; Nuclear Medicine; Outpatients; Physician Assistants; Quality of Life; Republic of Korea; Social Control, Formal; Specialization; Thorax
- From:Journal of Lung Cancer 2008;7(2):75-80
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
- Abstract: PURPOSE : Since the year 2000, lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer death in South Korea and also in many other parts of the world. MATERIALS AND METHODS : We developed a multidisciplinary (MD) care system for lung cancer patients in 1996. Here, we report the results obtained in the process of development of MD team (MDT). RESULTS : The MDT was launched with including medical doctors, chest surgeons, radiation oncologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine specialists and physician assistants. To facilitate co-operation between the MDT members, a specialized out-patient clinic was located within a sector of the hospital. A common ward was allocated for lung cancer patients regardless of the department of the attending physician. Shared electronic medical record forms that were specialized for lung cancer were developed. The MDT operates weekly lung cancer conferences and multidisciplinary out-patient clinics. To make diagnostic or therapeutic decisions early on, the electronic medical records of the patients were previewed or consulted by the specialists before they meet the individual patients. CONCLUSION : Despite every effort, we still need to shorten the waiting time from presentation to the first treatment and we need to improve the patients' satisfaction. We also have a mission to develop our own regulations and guidelines for our lung cancer MD care system. Clinical trials and basic research should also be encouraged along with improving the quality of life of the team members
