Chemical Pathologists’ Role as Part of Multidisciplinary Teams’ Approach to Health-care Delivery

Abstract

Background: The care of the sick has gone beyond a ‘one-man show’ since the medical profession is dynamic. The dynamism of the profession is to entrench the patients’ survival. This is being done by introducing the concept of Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) approach to patients’ management. Objective: This review is to have a look at the various roles or ways the Chemical Pathologists can fix into MDT as laboratory physicians. Method: This article discusses the definitions and some terminologies in Chemical Pathology and concept of MDT. Its approach in medicare, went through the historical line and evolution of the subspecialty of Chemical Pathology. It discusses the role of Chemical Pathologists in MDT as well as pros and cons of the concept of MDT. Finally, it also discusses how to improve MDTs in Nigerian Tertiary Hospitals. It was essentially based on literatures written in English. Conclusion: This review article has tried to discuss roles of Chemical Pathologists in MDTs approach to patients’ management in our hospitals not leaving out the historical aspects, its advantages, disadvantages, barriers and possible way forward for the suggested challenges.