Enabling Regional Cancer Treatment Multidisciplinary Meetings (MDMs)
The ability to link clinicians via a video-conferencing solution has been identified as a major enabler to support effective regional cancer treatment planning MDMs. Currently there are no MDMs utilising video-conferencing as a method to improve the communications between specialist services and referrers in the Midland Cancer Network area.
In February 2011 regional cancer networks prioritised projects for one-off limited funding for improving lung and bowel cancer tumour streams and had agreements for these with the Ministry of Health.
Three of the four networks selected projects to support the functioning of regional lung and bowel multidisciplinary meetings including implementation of a regional conferencing strategy. The project managers in these networks have been working together so as to identify potential solutions for connectivity that would support regional and supra-regional MDMs as much as possible. The Northern Cancer Network priority was the development of an MDM database.
In late June it was recognised an interim solution for DHB connectivity for cancer MDMs was not able to be achieved in Midland. Therefore it was agreed with the lead Chief Information Officer that the network investment into upgrading audiovisual equipment as preparation for regional video-conferencing be given priority. This will make available high definition audiovisual equipment for local cancer treatment MDMs.
As at December 2011 the audiovisual equipment in the radiology conference rooms at Waikato and Tauranga hospitals is in the process of being upgraded. Lakes DHB will not upgrade their equipment at this time.
To support the work of MDMs the Midland lung cancer database is being upgraded and a Midland bowel cancer database is being developed.
