multidisciplinary team

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

a group of healthcare professionals from different specialties and disciplines — typically including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, social workers, psychologists, and other allied health professionals — who collaborate to plan and deliver care for a patient with complex needs, integrating their distinct expertise into a coordinated treatment approach; multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) are standard in cancer care, where tumour boards review each patient's case and agree a management plan, and in rehabilitation, mental health, and the care of patients with multiple chronic conditions; effective MDT working requires clear communication, mutual respect across professional boundaries, shared decision-making, and systems for coordinating the contributions of different team members; the MDT model represents a shift from physician-centred to team-based care as the norm for managing complex illness