Workflow: Preparing an MDT Case Presentation

Preparing a case for a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting under time pressure is a routine challenge in oncology. This workflow uses an AI tool to help you organise the key clinical information into a structured, clearly presented summary — so you can walk into the meeting with confidence that nothing has been missed.

1. Read the case notes yourself first

   This step is not optional. Before you give the tool anything to work with, read the case yourself. You need to understand what is clinically important, what is uncertain, and what the key question for the MDT is. The tool can only organise information you provide — it cannot identify what is clinically significant without your direction.

2. Write an anonymised list of the key clinical facts

   On a blank document, write down the essential facts: age range, cancer type and stage, prior treatment history, current performance status, most recent relevant investigations, and the specific question you are bringing to the MDT. Remove all identifying information. Use clinical categories rather than specific identifying details.

3. Open the tool and describe the format you need

   Open your chosen AI tool and start a fresh conversation. Tell it what you need before you give it the clinical content. For example: "I am preparing a case for an oncology MDT meeting. I will give you anonymised clinical bullet points. Organise them into a structured MDT case presentation using the following headings: Patient Summary, Diagnosis and Staging, Treatment History, Current Status, Investigations, and Question for MDT. Do not add any clinical information I have not provided. Do not include any clinical recommendations."

4. Provide your anonymised bullet points

   Paste or type your clinical facts. Keep them brief and factual. The tool will organise them into the MDT structure you specified.

5. Review the structure and check for accuracy

   Read the output against your own notes. Check that every fact has been accurately transcribed into the structure. Look for: facts that have been placed under the wrong heading, important details that were present in your bullet points but are absent from the output, and any phrasing that has changed the clinical meaning.

6. Clarify the question for the MDT

   A clear, specific question makes MDT discussions more productive. If your original question was broad — "what is the best management plan?" — ask the tool to help you sharpen it: "Rewrite the question for MDT as a specific clinical question based on the information provided. Offer two or three possible question formulations and I will choose the most accurate one." Review the options and pick the one that best reflects what you need from the meeting.

7. Prepare a one-paragraph oral summary

   For the spoken part of your presentation, ask the tool: "Write a two- to three-sentence oral summary of this case that I could read aloud at the start of the MDT presentation. Keep it to the most essential facts." Read this aloud — not just silently. A sentence that reads well may be harder to deliver than you expect.

8. Use the structured summary as a personal reference document

   The AI-generated MDT summary is for your use in preparing for the meeting. Do not submit it as a formal clinical record or MDT referral document without converting it into your clinical system's required format. It is a preparation aid, not a final document.

What this means for you

A well-structured MDT presentation takes less time in the meeting. The key question is clear. The history is presented efficiently. The team reaches a decision faster and with less back-and-forth clarification. The tool compresses the preparation time. The clinical quality of the presentation remains yours.

When not to use this workflow

Do not use this for cases where the clinical picture is straightforward enough to present from memory or a single clinic letter. This workflow is for complex cases with extensive treatment histories, multiple prior investigations, or referrals from other centres — where organising the information is itself the challenge.

Remember: AI is a helpful assistant, not a clinician. You make the call.