multidisciplinary team
A coordinated group of healthcare professionals from different clinical disciplines who collaboratively plan and deliver geriatric rehabilitation care.
Full Definition
In geriatric rehabilitation, the multidisciplinary team (MDT) typically comprises physicians (geriatricians), nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, dietitians, social workers, and pharmacists, all working toward shared patient-centred goals. MDT meetings are a cornerstone of rehabilitation program delivery and are frequently documented in clinical records and research literature. Editors must consistently apply whichever spelling variant an organization uses — 'multidisciplinary' (preferred) versus 'multi-disciplinary' (hyphenated, less common) — and abbreviate consistently as MDT after first use. 'Interdisciplinary team' is a related but conceptually distinct term emphasising integration rather than parallel working.
Usage
Usage note: Preferred form is 'multidisciplinary' (one word). Abbreviate as MDT after first use. Do not conflate with 'interdisciplinary team', which implies a higher degree of role integration.
In Context
- "The multidisciplinary team met weekly to review each patient's rehabilitation goals and discharge planning." — Inpatient rehabilitation ward procedure document
- "MDT involvement was associated with shorter length of stay and higher rates of community discharge." — Systematic review abstract