Cancer has a devastating affect on our community. It is the second most common cause of disease burden in males and females in NSW1. The geographic area in which the Sydney Adventist Hospital (SAH) operates has a high incidence of patients with cancer and the total number of new cancer cases in the SAH catchment area are increasing. The most prevalent cancers in our region are lung, skin/melanomas, breast, bowel and prostate.
SAH strives to remain at the forefront of innovative care solutions for patients and has implemented Multidisciplinary Cancer Teams (MDT’s) to best address the needs associated with caring for and treating cancer patients. We believe that the implementation of MDT’s fosters increased communication between healthcare professionals, improves the quality of care and provides the patient with confidence that they are obtaining other opinions regarding their condition.
Multidisciplinary Teams at SAH
Multidisciplinary Cancer Teams are currently in place at SAH for Breast Cancer, Urological Cancer and Gastro Intestinal Cancer. The team meets to agree on the diagnosis and staging of the disease using evidence-based guidelines and to plan the best treatment option for the patient, taking the patient’s preferences into account. A treatment plan is developed to optimally manage care.
The Multidisciplinary Teams at the San involve health professionals from numerous areas, and may include Surgeons, Medical Oncologists, Radiation Oncologists, Social Workers, Physiotherapists, Palliative Care Specialists, Radiologists, Pathologists, Nurses, Case Managers, and Cancer Support professionals.
Meetings are held fortnightly on Wednesdays & Fridays.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For more information about our Multidisciplinary Cancer Teams please contact Robyn Tew, MDT Coordinator, on 9487 9400.
1. NSW Health: Optimising Cancer Care in NSW, 2003
