Medical Services : Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)
The foundation for providing comprehensive services at Southwest CARE Center is the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) approach. Through that approach, each client benefits from the experience and expertise of an entire team of professionals who work closely with the client and one another.
Different staff members are able to interact with a client and develop an understanding of the client's strengths, needs, concerns, and challenges. Throughout the process, Center staff maintains a commitment to client confidentiality. The unique MDT approach provides a powerful knowledge base to develop plans for care, wellness, and treatment. The team consists of the client, physician, nurse, social worker, practical support coordinator, and may include a psychiatrist, peer advocate, home health nurse, or other pertinent people specific to the client's needs.
There are a variety of ways the team approach can enhance care. When a client begins or changes medications, for example, the physician prescribes the medications and the nurse does a teaching session about how to take the medications. When the client meets with the social worker, he or she would find that the social worker is aware that the client has begun or changed medications. The social worker would be prepared to explore ways to support success with beginning or changing medications.
The multi-disciplinary team interacts on an ongoing basis according to the client's needs. There is a monthly MDT meeting that provides Center staff with an opportunity to discuss specific clients and coordinate care. The meeting is also a time when treatment issues that are a part of ongoing care can be discussed. For example, some topics of discussion are new and changing treatment issues, addressing substance abuse concerns, how to support clients to be successful with taking medications, cultural competency, and many other topics that are important to client care.
There are a variety of ways the team approach can enhance care. When a client begins or changes medications, for example, the physician prescribes the medications and the nurse does a teaching session about how to take the medications. When the client meets with the social worker, he or she would find that the social worker is aware that the client has begun or changed medications. The social worker would be prepared to explore ways to support success with beginning or changing medications.
The multi-disciplinary team interacts on an ongoing basis according to the client's needs. There is a monthly MDT meeting that provides Center staff with an opportunity to discuss specific clients and coordinate care. The meeting is also a time when treatment issues that are a part of ongoing care can be discussed. For example, some topics of discussion are new and changing treatment issues, addressing substance abuse concerns, how to support clients to be successful with taking medications, cultural competency, and many other topics that are important to client care.
