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What is meant by "My team?"
I often hear the phrase "my team" or "your team" used in reference to cancer care. " Make sure you have a good team." When I hear phrases like that. I imagine a bunch of doctors sitting around a table discussing my care.
Brief History: Original diagnosis (11/21) CT2a, Then SBRT to the prostate. Then three years later, three Mets discovered 6/24). Then metastatic directed radiation. When the Mets were discovered, I started on Lupron and Zytiga. PSA undetectable now for 6 months.
Since 2021, I've seen a urologist perform the biopsy, then radiologist do do the radiation and then an oncologist to prescribe drugs. Does this constitute my "team?" As far as I know, the only connection between "my team" is each individually accessing my electronic records. I have no evidence that they have ever talked to each other about my care.
I submit that using phrases like "my team" is very misleading.
Probably better to say, "make sure you have good doctors."
What am I missing here?
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"My team" was a little different. I'm thinking that some cancers don't have the kind of team assigned to me. There was a psychologist, social worker, a nurse navigator and a gaggle of nurse trainees, a medical (chemical) oncologist, radiation oncologist. The room was sometimes overcrowded. But sometimes there was only one or two.
I see now that the term at least in my use is misleading. Apologies.
Tom
Your team usually refers to Doctors and professionals handling your case. People that actively handle your case. That includes
Your Oncologist
Your friend who is a oncologist
Dr. Harzstark, your GU oncologist
Your urologist
Your radiation oncologist
Your orthopedic surgeon
Your orthopedic PA
Your PCP
Your wife for support
Maybe even me?
Jeff
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5 ReactionsJeff, you are the team CAPTAIN😉
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1 ReactionMy team was- urologist who also was prostate robotic surgeon specialist, urologist who took care of the pharmaceutical aspect, pharmacist at the urologist, oncologist, 4 radiation techs, 5 nurses, and a social worker. All who were in contact with each other and followed me along the entire way. They were all fantastic and could reach them all by phone easily
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1 ReactionI know that if you are a Mayo patient everyone involved your care reads the other's notes. They do for me and my family. The notes they make are different than the one on the portal. Lots more detail with their notes.
Same with my team, everyone saw the note on every visit and every test.
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1 ReactionGood point. Never thought of that.
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1 ReactionHere's a pictorial.
The team can be anything you want it to be.
I don't have a urologist on my team, a radiologist and oncologist are who I work with.
I do have a Primary Care Provider.
I do have a cardiologist.
I don't have a dietician, physical trainer. sexual therapist....'
Does my team talk to each other..yes, they are in the same practice, same building and on the same portal system, My Chart.
and yet, they don't because, they are transitioning electronic medical systems so some of the data is elsewhere, in the process of being migrated. I have to go in and manually provide access to providers in other health systems...
At the end of the day, I keep a shadow chart of all my labs, imaging, other diagnostic testing. Then it's easy for me to send to another member of my health team if needed.
If you want an example of an instance where they don't talk to each other, I was sitting in the infusion center of my oncologist, doing a Taxotere session. My urologist's office calls and asks if I can come in early for the 90 day Lupron shot because my urologist had a change in schedule...NO!
That is exactly what goes on at Kaiser, where you are treated. As I mentioned, when I’ve seen many of the different doctors there, they know everything about my case because they read all the notes.
@rrk25: what insurance covers the services of your team? can you share the name of the facility you used- why did you have a social worker, what was his/her job? I never get a doctor on the phone, it goes as far as the nurse, or reception- my communication with the team is on the patient portal- unless it's an outpatient appointment-