Audit of a Streamlined Multidisciplinary Team Meeting (MDT) to Results Clinic Pathway in Urology: Evaluating the Impact of a Nurse-Led Intervention on Consultant Clinic Waiting Times
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The time from uro-oncology multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussions to the outpatient results clinic was recognised as a bottleneck that could potentially delay patients' shared decision-making and timely initiation of management plans. In an effort to reduce waiting times for time sensitive patients a nurse-led results clinic was introduced to streamline select patients. Objective: This study aimed to audit and compare waiting times from MDT discussion to consultant results clinic before and after the implementation of a nurse-led results clinic pathway. METHODS: This two-cycle audit included data from January to May 2023 and 2024 (Cycle 1, pre-intervention baseline), and prospective data from January to May 2025 (Cycle 2, post-intervention). Average waiting times across five consultant clinics were calculated on a monthly basis. A weekly eight-slot nurse-led results clinic was opened in October 2024, enabling select patients to be booked directly from MDT to have prompt discussions, shared decision-making, and timely initiation of treatment plans. Results: The mean wait time for consultant-led clinics dropped from 34.1 days (SD 7.89) in 2023 and 2024 to 16.0 days (SD 3.16) in 2025; a 53.1% reduction. The difference was statistically significant: Welch's t-test, t(12.75) = 6.31, p = 0.00003; paired t-test by month, t(4) = -7.64, p = 0.0016. The effect size was large (Cohen's d = -2.66). Conclusion: This nurse-led intervention significantly reduced waiting times for consultant-led clinics, as well as having the direct benefit of reviewing eight patients a week directly from MDT in less than a week. The model is sustainable and scalable, with implications for wider service redesign across outpatient specialties.
Source: Cureus
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.97560
Authors: Jonathan McAdam, Jay Atkinson, Samantha McBeigh, Hugh O'Kane
Institution: Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Language: English
Topic: Nursing Roles and Practices
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7106483656