Abbasi, Ahmed Nadeem

Kiziltan, Huriye Senay

English

eCommons@AKU

eCommons@AKUDepartment of Radiation Oncology Medical College, PakistanJune 2017Implementation of quality measures in site-specificmultidisciplinary tumour boardsAhmed Nadeem AbbasiAga Khan University, nadeem.abbasi@aku.eduHuriye Senay KiziltanBezmialem Vakif University, TurkeyFollow this and additional works at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_radiat_oncolPart of the Oncology Commons, and the Radiology CommonsRecommended CitationAbbasi, A. N., Kiziltan, H. S. (2017). Implementation of quality measures in site-specific multidisciplinary tumour boards. Journal ofthe College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, 27(6), 388-388.Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_radiat_oncol/25388 Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan 2017, Vol. 27 (6): 388Sir,Establishment of site-specific Multidisciplinary TumorBoards (MDTs) is the task which can be regarded as ourfirst endeavor towards achieving an optimal manage-ment plan for our cancer patients. The development ofconsensus opinion in a multidisciplinary setting in itself isan important step towards better health care of ourpatients. Now, the next step is, introduction andimplementation of quality in these MDT site-specifictumor boards.At the second stage of this endeavor, we can learnfrom our colleagues who are already involved in thisprocess since many years. A literature search of peer-reviewed observational studies, addressing this verysubject, would be a useful step towards getting aclearer understanding of quality implementation. Allaspects of quality in healthcare are being touched andaddressed with thorough deliberations in this regard.Quality manpower, methodology and measurement ofperformance of these tumor boards are documented ingovernmental and organizational papers. Just to quotean example, we wish to mention a document publishedby the National Cancer Action Team in the UnitedKingdom.1 This document narrates the characteristics ofan effective MDT. Taking it as a baseline guide, we havegone through the UK Department of Health's Manual ofCancer Services.2 Then, there are number of studieswhich are being conducted in order to look further intothe decision-making processes of site-specific tumorboards. Here, we would like to remind our readers thatwe are quoting facts from policy documents, which are apublished in a country where these MDT meetings are amandatory part of their healthcare system. Thesecountries have not stopped after the establishment ofthese MDT tumor boards; but, they are now closelymonitoring the influences of these boards by studyingvarious quality indicators.3 Qualitative analysis ofmethodology followed in boards leading to a consensusopinion-building is now the topic of greater interestworldwide.4In Pakistan, we are in the initial phase of establishmentof these site-specific tumor boards; therefore, today, wehave an opportunity to learn from other countries’experience and incorporate quality indicators in oursystem, as well. Our team had gone through someliterature reviews and critical appraisals and we had triedto learn from our colleagues’ experiences, who areinvolved in cancer care in countries like UK, USA,Canada, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE, etc. We had tried todocument our own experiences in our local journals withan intention to share our learning points.5,6This is now high time for all those colleagues, who areinvolved in one way or the other in cancer care, tochannel all their energies towards the implementation ofhighest quality standards in site-specific tumor boards.REFERENCES1. National Cancer Action Team. Characteristics of an effectiveMDT. London: National Cancer Action Team, 2010.http//webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130513211237.2. Department of Health, Manual for Cancer Services. London:Department of Health, 2004.3. Lanceley A, Savage J, Menon U, Jacobs I. Influences onmultidisciplinary team decision-making. Int J Gynecol Cancer2008; 18:215-22.4. Rowland S, Callen J. A qualitative analysis of communicationbetween hospital based multidisciplinary lung cancer team.Euro J cancer Care 2013; 22:22-31.5. Asghar AH, Abbasi AN, Jamal A, Haider G, Rizvi S. City tumourboard Karachi: an innovative step in multidisciplinaryconsensus meeting and its two years audit . J Pak Med Assoc2013; 63:1534-5.6. Abbasi AN. Cancer management is a multidisciplinary teamwork. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2011; 21:259-61.LETTER TO THE EDITORImplementation of QualityMeasures in Site-SpecificMultidisciplinary Tumour BoardsAhmed Nadeem Abbasi1 and Huriye Senay Kiziltan21 Department of Radiation Oncology, Aga Khan University,Karachi.2 Department of Radiation Oncology, Bezmialem VakifUniversity, Faculty of Medical Sciences, 34093 Fatih,Istanbul, Turkey.Correspondence: Dr. Ahmed Nadeem Abbasi, Associate Professorand Section Head, Department of Radiation Oncology,The Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi.E-mail: nadeem.abbasi@aku.eduReceived: July 11, 2016;   Accepted: January 26, 2017.

Implementation of quality measures in site-specific multidisciplinary tumour boards

https://ecommons.aku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1025&amp;context=pakistan_fhs_mc_radiat_oncol

Implementation of quality measures in site-specific multidisciplinary tumour boards

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

eCommons@AKU