Requirements to improve multidisciplinary cancer care

ABSTRACT

Cancer care is very complicated, and given the rapidly developing knowledge and technology related to cancer management, multidisciplinary team approach has become essential to determine the optimal treatment plan in an efficient way. It is expected to improve the clinical outcomes in cancer treatment. Multidisciplinary team approach is increasingly implemented across cancer care services throughout the world. In many developed countries, it has been a principle way of managing cancer patients and the organizing multidisciplinary teams has become a mandatory requirement. The team usually includes surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists and also radiologists. In Korea, reimbursing multidisciplinary care for cancer patients has been implemented since August 2014. From short experiences, many practical issues were raised to improve this newly established cancer care service successfully in the current medical system in Korea. This review briefly describes the potential benefits of multidisciplinary team working in cancer care and suggests the several requirements to improve the multidisciplinary care service for the future.