Cancer Care in Younger Adults: A Multidisciplinary Team in Practice

In an interview with Targeted Oncology, Shane Dormady, MD, PhD, medical director of El Camino Health Cancer Center, describes an example of multidisciplinary cancer care in practice, outlining the range of providers and professionals involved in the care of younger adult patients with cancer at El Camino Health.

Watch the first part of Dr Dormady’s interview.

Concerning treatment strategy, El Camino Health hosts weekly multidisciplinary tumor board conferences where all new cancer cases are presented to a diverse group of medical specialists, including surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, the radiation oncologist, and the medical oncologist, who collaborate to form a treatment strategy for each cancer case.

At the bedside, a nurse practitioner sees patients independently to help manage acute illnesses and adverse effects in the event the medical oncologist is inaccessible. A palliative care team also helps manage patients’ symptoms and enrollment in hospice services, if necessary. Furthermore, a medical assistant interacts with patients to record medical history and medications.

Beyond clinical care, nurse navigators assist with administrative tasks such as arranging appointments and scheduling tests for patients, minimizing logistical inefficiencies. Additionally, specialized professionals such as an oncology-certified psychologist, an oncology-certified dietitian, and licensed social workers help address the emotional, nutritional, and socioeconomic needs of younger adult patients.

With many key players involved, Dormady attributes the team’s seamless coordination of care to the electronic medical record (EMR), an instrumental tool that facilitates communication between providers and external institutions. Specifically, he underscores the importance of clear documentation in the EMR.

Read the full interview here.