Multidisciplinary care in pediatric oncology

Figures & data

Table 1 American Academy guidelines for multidisciplinary teams in pediatrics for cancer centersa

Board certified/eligible or equivalent pediatric hematologist/oncologist Board certified pathologist(s) committed to handling specimens according to COG protocols Nurses with additional training in the management of children and adolescents with cancer and blood disorders, and documented in-house training in chemotherapy administration Clinical research associates trained in data management support of cooperative research Respiratory therapists with expertise in pediatrics Anesthesiologist with expertise in the management of children Radiologist with expertise in the management of children Pharmacist with expertise in chemotherapy Social worker with additional training in the management of children and adolescents with cancer and blood disorders

a Note: Adapted from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Guidelines for pediatric cancer centers: section on hematology/oncology policy statement on guidelines for pediatric cancer centers. Pediatrics. 2004;113(6):1833–1835.

Abbreviation: COG, Children’s Oncology Group.

Table 2 Required on-site services for the COG membershipa

Pediatric unit, ie, personnel trained in taking care of children even if beds are in an adult unit Intensive care unit with the ability to treat critically ill children Outpatient clinic for the acute and chronic care and treatment of children and adolescents with cancer Computed axial tomography Ultrasonography Pharmacy with capability of storage, accurate preparation, dispensing, and accounting for investigational drugs, and other antineoplastics Anatomic pathology services necessary for the immediate handling of specimens: Ability to perform and interpret rapid frozen sections Ability to rapidly freeze specimens for storage Laboratory services necessary for the care of critically ill children that must be available 24 hours a day: Ability to perform routine blood gas, clinical chemistry, hematology, and coagulation assays on small samples Availability of therapeutic apheresis Immediate interpretation of organism stains Capabilities to provide appropriate isolation for patients with severe immunosuppression Expertise available to determine the need to deliver and monitor total parenteral nutrition for critically and chronically ill children and adolescents Pain management and sedation guidelines Long-term follow-up services for survivors of pediatric cancer Data collection and transfer systems to support clinical trials programs: Internet access at the institution Individual email accounts for all COG members At minimum, Windows XP (or Mac), 64 MB RAM, 15˝ monitor, access to a printer

a Note: Adapted from Children’s Oncology Group.⁶⁴

Abbreviation: COG, Children’s Oncology Group.

Children’s Oncology Group www.childrensoncologygroup.org/

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