Published: May 2025. Next review: 2030.
These principles support non-genetic clinicians and healthcare services involved in multidisciplinary care to review, improve and standardise processes.
As genomics becomes part of everyday healthcare, non-genetic clinicians are now incorporating genomic care into their practice.
Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings and multidisciplinary clinics (MDCs) bring together genetic and non-genetic specialists, including primary care clinicians and laboratory staff, to:
- increase diagnostic rates and improve interpretation of results and care pathways1
- improve timeliness of genomic diagnoses1
- review patient cases collaboratively
- share knowledge and expertise across disciplines.
- plan for transition from paediatric to adult care including primary care.
Use these key principles and related tools to optimise multidisciplinary care, involving genetic services.
More about this resource and multidisciplinary care
The key principles of multidisciplinary care
- Principle 1: Person-centred care
- The person's needs and wishes come first in MDT meeting discussions.
- Principle 2: The right team with clear roles
- Assembling the right team promotes efficient multidisciplinary care.
- Principle 3: Effective planning and organisation
- Planning before, during and after an MDT meeting supports best use of time.
- Principle 4: Suitable environment and technology
- Considering the set up and using the right digital tools for an MDT affects how well it works.
- Principle 5: Capture data and conduct monitoring
- Collecting data and using this to monitor and evaluate meetings optimises effectiveness.
- Principle 6: Embed genomics into mainstream care
- Using MDTs to incoporate genomics into clinical care provides access to more people and is an opportunity to share knowledge.
Implementing the principles
- Templates and resources support MDT and MTC processes and planning.
- Activity reporting guides services to report non-admitted patient activity.
References
- Ma A, O’Shea R, Wedd L, et al. What is the power of a genomic multidisciplinary team approach? A systematic review of implementation and sustainability. Eur J Hum Genet. 2024;32:381–391. DOI: 10.1038/s41431-024-01555-5