A complex systems framework approach towards multidisciplinary tumor boards

Abstract

Multidisciplinary tumor boards (MTBs) are universally recommended and have been used in treatment of late stage cancers. Tumor boards have the advantage of including all the stakeholders in the decision making process and improving quality of care, however several studies have pointed to their lack of efficiency and tend to be lackluster while not producing the desired benefits for the participants. In this paper we present the design of a web based immersive framework for collaborative decision making that has the potential to improve several inefficiencies in conducting tumor boards and improve overall clinical outcomes. We present the design of our framework and use late stage cancer treatment as an example to explain its software components and its role in improving communication, treatment time and the overall decision making process. The framework which has been successfully used in other collaborative decision-making environments has the potential to transform how tumor boards could dramatically improve the quality of cancer care in the future.