The Southern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service is a joint initiative of Alfred Health, Cabrini Health, Peninsula Health and Southern Health and aims to drive improvements in the delivery of cancer care within the southern metropolitan region.
Efficient MDT meeting discussions and treatment planning rely on the ability of health professionals to access and review all relevant clinical information when determining treatment recommendations. Clinicians within southern Melbourne identified issues regarding the limitations of the available technology within the existing meeting rooms which caused delays within the meetings, and their inability to link with off-site clinicians involved in the patient’s care.
Aim
To create facilities that enable efficient and effective multidisciplinary team meetings through an upgrade of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and audio visual (AV) systems.

Methods
SMICS developed functional requirements in conjunction with cancer clinicians, and provided capital grants to its public member health services for the refurbishment of four bespoke MDT meeting rooms.
Results
Meeting rooms were successfully upgraded with sophisticated integrated ICT and AV systems which include:
• multiple computer workstations
• three large plasma display panels
• integrated teleconferencing
• microscope connection
Evaluation of the refurbished meeting rooms was conducted via survey of MDT members. Feedback indicates clinician satisfaction with review of pathology and radiology investigations and the capacity to review documentation of recommendations for treatment within the meeting. The technology has also increased the potential for linkages, with several metropolitan based teams now exploring the potential for regionally-based clinicians to participate in metropolitan MDT meetings.
Conclusion
Clinician participation in MDT meetings has been enhanced though access to improved ICT and AV capabilities in clinical meeting venues, thereby enhancing the quality and safety of cancer care.