Definition of Multidisciplinary Teams in Healthcare
Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) are at the core of improving people’s health. They represent a structured group of healthcare practitioners from various health and social care fields who come together to support individuals with complex needs. MDTs are proactive when engaging with individuals and families, especially in decision-making, while connecting with other teams and services within their communities to provide the best possible solution and outcome.
MDTs are proven to be highly effective when providing care for children with complex care needs, as well as people with mental health concerns and complex health conditions.
A team of health and care professionals can consist of:
- Psychologists
- Social workers
- Occupational therapists
- Nurses
- Doctors
- Dieticians
- Care workers
- Pharmacists
- Speech and language therapists
Depending on the complexity of the needs, the team may be bigger or smaller, with other health professionals included.
Multidisciplinary Teams Roles and Responsibilities
The professionals in a multidisciplinary team provide different areas of expertise, which they combine to tackle complex challenges. The teams meet regularly to discuss their work and develop a personalised care plan best suited to people’s unique needs.
MDTs have access to many health, social care, and community services resources. They are focused on ensuring every team member learns everything about that child’s needs and preferences. This way, the team can deliver proper care at the right time and place. A successful MDT can facilitate rapid discharge from hospitals, reduce hospital admissions, and improve children’s and their families’ quality of life.
The MDT aims to deliver an integrated, holistic and individualised approach to health and social care, focusing on continuity of care and people’s unique strengths and abilities.
Complex Needs in Children
Children with complex needs often require a multidisciplinary approach that addresses them accordingly. Some children may have multiple health conditions that affect them differently, which require a greater degree of support from a multidisciplinary team. Therefore, a cohesive team approach to care is crucial to deliver proper care.
It is essential to understand why children may have complex needs and evaluate the multiple factors, especially during the decision-making process, to ensure care is proactive and properly tailored. Some of the complex needs can result from a combination of:
- https://uniquecs.co.uk/blog/down-syndrome/Neurodevelopmental differences, such as learning disabilities and Down syndrome.
- Congenital conditions present at birth, such as spina bifida or physical disabilities.
- Mental health difficulties, like anxiety.
In most cases, complex care is delivered at the child’s home, enabling them to continue living with their family and loved ones, close to their local community, and in the comfort of their home.
Coordinated Care for Children with Complex Needs
Without coordinated care, people often receive fragmented and inconsistent support. Therefore, children and adults with complex needs need an established group of professionals who will provide comprehensive care and ensure the delivery of holistic, person-centred care that can improve outcomes.
Multidisciplinary teams can provide the foundation for high-quality care that will effectively build relationships and ensure children’s care is focused on their comprehensive needs.
Assessment and Evaluation
When a child requires support from a multidisciplinary team, they first have their needs assessed and evaluated. The MDTs are responsible for evaluating children’s needs and deciding on further action, ensuring each person gets the support they need. All of their decisions will be written in a report where they will include:
- The specific tools and standardised tests used to gather information about the children’s needs
- Information about the child’s health and well-being
- An assessment of the child’s needs and their family members
Development of Personalised Care Plans
After conducting an assessment and evaluation, the multidisciplinary team will develop a personalised care plan to build relationships with the family and other professionals to identify the most important for the child to achieve improved health outcomes.
Personalised care planning benefits people with complex needs as it offers the opportunity to understand what matters most to the person and what outcomes they want to achieve. MDTs can then help people build their knowledge, skills, and confidence to tackle all obstacles and challenges along the way.
Monitoring and Adjusting Care Plans Based on Progress
When starting a specific care plan, MDTs constantly monitor and adjust based on the progress made. A comprehensive and holistic assessment of the person’s needs, achievements and preferences is crucial for improving well-being. This will include gathering information about medications, health conditions, pain levels, medical history, and personal goals. MDTs use this information to identify people’s strengths and challenges and adjust the care plans according to their unique situation.
Adjusting the care plans means changing the outcomes, goals, interventions or even strategies that might not work. For example, if a person develops new symptoms or their well-being improves, the care plan will be adjusted to reach new goals and objectives.
Benefits of Multidisciplinary Teams in Coordinated Care
Multidisciplinary teams offer plenty of benefits to people receiving care and the entire healthcare system. Some of the benefits include:
- Comprehensive and holistic care
- Providing strong emotional support
- Improved health outcomes
- Efficient use of resources
- Improved and enhanced communication
- Increased job satisfaction
- Improved access to care
Improved Outcomes for Children with Complex Needs
A multidisciplinary team provides proactive care by being guided by people’s abilities and strengths, not solely focusing on the person’s condition and symptoms. With each professional focused on a different aspect of the care plan, MDTs can easily target all areas of need and manage the needs effectively.
Overall, MDTs can significantly improve health outcomes by ensuring that care is personalised and tailored to people’s unique needs and goals.
Enhanced Communication and Collaboration Among Healthcare Professionals
Multidisciplinary teams save time and improve productivity by enhancing communication and collaboration. Coordination helps minimise errors and ensure consistency of care, and collaboration ensures that everyone is working towards a common goal and focused on people’s unique needs.
Comprehensive and Holistic Approach to Care
A comprehensive and holistic approach to care delivered by multi-disciplinary teams is a cornerstone of modern healthcare practices, ensuring that patients receive integrated and personalized care that addresses their physical, emotional, and social needs. By considering all aspects of a patient’s well-being, from their medical history and current health status to their personal preferences and social support systems, multi-disciplinary teams can provide more effective and coordinated care that promotes healing and improves overall outcomes.
Furthermore, this approach recognizes that health is influenced by a complex interplay of factors beyond just physical symptoms or diagnoses. It acknowledges the importance of addressing psychological and social determinants of health, such as mental health issues, socioeconomic status, cultural background, and access to resources. Through open communication, shared decision-making, and coordinated interventions, multi-disciplinary teams empower patients to actively participate in their own care and support them in achieving their health goals.
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Finding bespoke care services can be difficult, but Unique Community Services provides tailored, person-centred, efficient, and focused services that aim to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.
Our team of experts shares a common goal and purpose to transform healthcare for the better and collaborate to improve people’s well-being. As you can see in this case study, we deliver personalised support and create individualised care plans tailored to people’s unique needs. We also deliver mental health services and complex health solutions for people aged 0-65+.
Contact us today if you want to find out more about our services.
