Multi-disciplinary team (MDT) is a leading diagnosis and treatment model widely respected in modern international medical field, which plays an important role in clarifying disease diagnosis, determining treatment direction, and reducing patient time and labor cost. In recent years, China has issued relevant policies to encourage hospitals to vigorously develop MDT. West China Hospital of Sichuan University established a MDT clinic in 2013. Through continuous innovation and bold breakthrough in terms of experience accumulation, clinical resource integration, disciplinary collaboration and other aspects, the hospital breaks the barriers of MDT, timely helps complex severe diseases patients to solve the diagnosis and treatment needs, provides patients with the best personalized treatment plan, and continuously improves the medical experience of patients. Therefore, this article introduces and summarizes the implementation process and experience of MDT outpatient clinic in West China Hospital of Sichuan University.
Objective To investigate the current status of multi-disciplinary team (MDT) in outpatient clinics of medical institutions in Sichuan, and to provide reference for further promoting the MDT model in outpatient clinics. Methods In November 2022, questionnaires were distributed to the outpatient management personnel of Sichuan Outpatient Management and Medical Quality Control Center from various medical institutions. The questionnaire included the basic information of the survey subjects and medical institutions, the current status of outpatient MDT work, the current status of operation and management, and the internal and external influencing factors of MDT development. Results A total of 106 questionnaires were received, of which 104 were valid. There were 70 hospitals that had provided outpatient MDT services, with a development rate of 67.31%, mainly concentrated in the past 5 years. A total of 60 hospitals (85.71%) had established MDT related systems, but only 14 hospitals (20.00%) had carried out relevant quality evaluation work. Among the 104 outpatient management personnel surveyed, 83.65% believed that the external factor affecting the development of outpatient MDT was the lack of correct understanding of MDT by patients, and 78.85% believed that the internal factor affecting the development of outpatient MDT was the low participation enthusiasm of departments and doctors. Conclusions The outpatient MDT in Sichuan is still in its early stages of development, and the outpatient MDT model has not yet been unified in terms of establishment standards, organizational methods, operational management, and fee standards. In the future, relevant departments and medical institutions still need to work together to promote its sustainable development.