Focus Topics

topic 1 | Activity 3: Principles of multidisciplinary care

Multidisciplinary teams (MDT) in healthcare refer to a group of healthcare professionals from different disciplines and professional groups, who work together to provide holistic, integrated care. The team can include doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and others who have different areas of expertise, and can offer a range of perspectives on the person and family’s care needs.[1]

Multidisciplinary approaches are frequently used for people who have complex health and care needs, in particular life-limiting illness.

 

Principles of a multidisciplinary approach:

  • Effective communication: It is essential for MDT to have communication structures that support all members of the team to share insights and concerns in MDT meetings, as well as having a comprehensive shared health record that all team members have access to. Structured tools for communication are very important.
  • Teamwork: MDTs need to have an identified leader who facilitates the work of the team and supports each member of the team to contribute. Team members need to have a shared understanding of the various roles and responsibilities of all team members and demonstrate respect for individual roles. Formal teamwork and communication training is recommended.
  • Planning and coordination of care: MDTs require effective planning and coordination to support access to quality palliative care, that is focused on the person and their family, and their individual needs and goals.[2-4]
  1. Consider the principles of effective communication, teamwork, and planning and coordination of care. In terms of your own profession, what specific activities can you implement to ensure these principles are demonstrated in a multidisciplinary team context?
  1. Borgstrom, E. et al. 2021. Multidisciplinary team meetings in palliative care: an ethnographic study. BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care: 14(1e).
  2. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. 2024. Quality statement 4 – Multidisciplinary coordination of care in hospital
  3. Social Care Institute for Excellence. 2023. Integrated care: What are multidisciplinary teams?
  4. Fernando, G & Hughes, S, 2019. Team approaches in palliative care: a review of the literature, International Journal of Palliative Nursing 25(9)