Improvement in multidisciplinary cancer care: The National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Conference and Clinics.

Abstract

e16539 Background: One of the goals of the NCCCP pilot is to disseminate the use of multidisciplinary case conferences/clinics (MDC) across community cancer centers. There are studies to show that MDC's translate into better patient care. We describe the use of MDC clinics and prospective tumor conferences since the inception of the NCCCP. Methods: Each NCCCP site recorded the level of lung cancer MDC integration in their program at baseline, 2007, and in December 2009. A multidisciplinary matrix tool (MDX) developed by the NCCCP site investigators was utilized (http://ncccp.cancer.gov/about/progress.htm). The tool has 7 variables including case planning, coordination of care, physician engagement, infrastructure support, financial integration, accrual to clinical trials, and medical record integration with a score of 1-5 on each variable (maximum score -35). Results: From 2007-2009, ten of 16 NCCCP sites had initiated disease specific MDC clinics and/or conferences for lung cancer. Seven have utilized MDC clinics as well as prospective tumor conferences. Three sites instituted MDC prospective tumor conferences alone. The ten sites with existing lung cancer MDC's prior to initiation of the NCCCP saw their mean score increase from 16 at baseline to 24.7. Conclusions: The NCCCP has utilized an MDX tool to describe the level of MDC care with improvement since the inception of the program. Further prospective data collection is ongoing to determine the impact on patient outcomes including time to treatment, patient satisfaction and survival. No significant financial relationships to disclose.