A quick introduction
Hello! My
name is Chelsey Gilmour and I've recently been appointed to work on the
Macmillan virtual MDT (vMDT) project based at The Christie. I have a brief
history of working at The Christie after graduating from university last
summer. Prior to my role on the vMDT I worked in the
Rehabilitation Unit, which gave me my first real insight into the consequences
of cancer and it's treatment. I'm proud to have the opportunity to
develop in this area and to learn more about the consequences of
cancer treatment by joining the vMDT Project. I very much look forward to
getting stuck in and helping to make this a successful and widely
used service.
My first week in this new role has mostly been spent learning the reasons why this project first came about and researching the issues that people face after recovering from cancer. I've realised that this type of project is a necessary addition to help people facing a poor quality of life as a result of their treatment. The service will be best utilised with a wide variety of healthcare professionals on board, as well as referrals coming in on a regular basis. It is therefore my aim to ensure that the service is widely known and user friendly, with enough helpful information available so that it can be used easily and efficiently by everybody involved.
The service currently accepts referrals from UK-wide oncology teams for patients experiencing complex or severe chronic symptoms after cancer treatment under any of the following criteria:
- People treated for cancer in
childhood through to young adulthood.
- People who have undergone a bone marrow
transplant.
- People who have been treated for pelvic
cancers by any treatment modality.
However,
we are in the process of extending the referral criteria to include more cancer
groups, including people treated for breast cancer, in addition to making some
system amendments to improve user experience, so watch this space... We’ll keep you posted on our developments,
but do also visit the Macmillan vMDT website www.macmillan.org.uk/vmdt for
further information including the history of the project along with frequently
asked questions.
Here is a brief overview of how to make a referral for those of you who are unfamiliar with the service. Please feel free to contact me if you require any further
information or assistance.
You can access
the vMDT system via the Macmillan website detailed above and click 'Access the Macmillan vMDT. If you are
not already registered you will be required to complete a simple registration
form. There are currently 3 main types of system user:
- Referrer: Allows you to create a referral for advice from our expert panel and view closed cases.
- Expert contributor: Healthcare professional who provides expert advice specific to their field/speciality and also has the ability to make referrals.
- Read-only viewer: Has the ability to search and view closed cases, is unable to make referrals.
How do I make a referral to the Virtual MDT?
To make a
referral you will need the following information to ensure the advice our
experts provide is appropriate and you achieve the maximum benefit from the
service for your patient. It is possible to begin your referral and complete it
later if you don't have all the information to hand.
- Cancer diagnoses and treatments (including dates and treatment types).
- Past medical history prior to cancer treatment.
- Current problems.
- Social/personal considerations.
- Patient's agreement to participate.
Screenshot
of the referral form:
To create
a new referral, click 'Create New Referral' on the vMDT homepage. This service
is completely anonymised, therefore when completing the fields please ensure there
is no patient identifiable information.
Once all
the fields have been completed, click 'Save and Submit Case' and the referral
will be directed to the vMDT Coordinator for processing to an expert pane
to provide advice. A final case summary will be produced for the referrer once
all expert responses have been received and the case will subsequently be
closed.
I hope
this quick user guide helps to explain the process of making a referral on the
Macmillan vMDT, but if you require any assistance please don't hesitate to
contact the vMDT team via the following contact information:
Email:
vMDTCoordinator@christie.nhs.uk
Twitter:
@virtualMDT
Telephone:
0161 918 2520
