J Lung Cancer.  2008 Dec;7(2):75-80. 10.6058/jlc.2008.7.2.75.

Development of a Multidisciplinary Care System for Lung Cancer Patients

• Na KJ
• Ahn SJ
• Kim YH
• Bom HS
• Choi C
• Kim KS
• Oh IJ
• Song SY
• Choi S
• Choi YD
• Jeong SY
• Yoon MS
• Back SM
• Kong KE
• Kim YC

• KMID: 2200030
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6058/jlc.2008.7.2.75

Abstract

PURPOSE : Since the year 2000, lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer death in South Korea and also in many other parts of the world.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
: We developed a multidisciplinary (MD) care system for lung cancer patients in 1996. Here, we report the results obtained in the process of development of MD team (MDT).
RESULTS
: The MDT was launched with including medical doctors, chest surgeons, radiation oncologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine specialists and physician assistants. To facilitate co-operation between the MDT members, a specialized out-patient clinic was located within a sector of the hospital. A common ward was allocated for lung cancer patients regardless of the department of the attending physician. Shared electronic medical record forms that were specialized for lung cancer were developed. The MDT operates weekly lung cancer conferences and multidisciplinary out-patient clinics. To make diagnostic or therapeutic decisions early on, the electronic medical records of the patients were previewed or consulted by the specialists before they meet the individual patients.
CONCLUSION
: Despite every effort, we still need to shorten the waiting time from presentation to the first treatment and we need to improve the patients' satisfaction. We also have a mission to develop our own regulations and guidelines for our lung cancer MD care system. Clinical trials and basic research should also be encouraged along with improving the quality of life of the team members

Keyword

Lung cancer; Multidisciplinary; Electronic Medical Record

MeSH Terms

Congresses as Topic
Electronic Health Records
Humans
Lung
Lung Neoplasms
Missions and Missionaries
Nuclear Medicine
Outpatients
Physician Assistants
Quality of Life
Republic of Korea
Social Control, Formal
Specialization
Thorax

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Basic information from the structured electronic medical records for lung cancer.

• 

  Fig. 2. Summary of the medical treatment from the structured electronic medical records for lung cancer.

• 

  Fig. 3. Captured image of the electronic chart for pain management.

• 

  Fig. 4. Electronic medical record of the out patient clinic showing the preview process.

• 

  Fig. 5. Web based record of a multidisciplinary conference.

Reference

References

1. Kim KS, Park ES, Kim SS, et al. A shared electronic medical record for lung cancer clinic. Tuberc Respir Dis. 2005; 59:480–486.

2. Lim JH, Ban HJ, Oh IJ, et al. Clinical characteristics of lung cancer diagnosed in Chonnam National University Hospital (CNUH) since 2000. Tuberc Respir Dis. 2006; 61:427–432.

3. Coory M, Gkolia P, Yang IA, Bowman RV, Fong KM. Systematic review of multidisciplinary teams in the management of lung cancer. Lung Cancer. 2008; 60:14–21.

4. Calman KC, Hine D. A policy framework for commissioning cancer services: a report to the chief medical officers of England and Wales. London: Department of Health and the Welsh Office;1995.

5. British_Thoracic_Society. BTS recommendations to respiratory physicians for organising the care of patients with lung cancer. The Lung Cancer Working Party of the British Thoracic Society Standards of Care Committee. Thorax. 1998; 53:S1–8.

6. Alberts WM, Bepler G, Hazelton T, Ruckdeschel JC, Williams JH Jr. Lung cancer. Practice organization. Chest. 2003; 123:332S–337S.

7. In KH, Kwon YS, Oh IJ, et al. Lung cancer patients who are asymptomatic at diagnosis show favorable prognosis: a Korean Lung Cancer Registry Study. Lung Cancer. 2008. in press.

8. Kim YC, Kwon YS, Oh IJ, et al. National survey of lung cancer in Korea, 2005. J Lung Cancer. 2007; 6:67–73.