gms | German Medical Science

Starting in 2002 University Hospital and Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus developed a concept to establish a comprehensive cancer center for patient care, cancer research and teaching. The UCC started operating in 2003 as a joint structure of the Clinic for Internal Medicine I, the Clinic of Abdominal- Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, and the Clinic for Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology. Further partner are currently the Institute for Diagnostic Radiology, the Clinic for Nuclear Medicine, the Institute for Pathology, the Clinic for Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, the Clinic for Orthopedics, and the Clinic for Dermatology. In addition the Regional Breast Cancer Center was established under the umbrella of the UCC. The UCC serves as a platform for the interdisciplinary collaboration of cancer specialists who continue to be firmly integrated in their mother disciplines. The UCC is a non-virtual center with its own interdisciplinary out patient unit run by jointly appointed supporting staff. All patients of the university hospital suffering from gastrointestinal tumors, intrathoracic tumors, sarcomas, or rare tumors are discussed in tumor boards that take place three times a week. In addition a breast tumor board is performed on a weekly basis. Interdisciplinary pathways for patient management are available electronically and form the basis for decision making and clinical care. Strategic developments and the quality of performance of the UCC are overseen by an interdisciplinary steering committee, which also appoints the director of the UCC, on a temporary position for three years, rotating between the major oncology disciplines. In 2004 a comprehensive quality management system was established and the UCC was accredited according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2000 as Comprehensive Cancer Center. The presentation will report on the experience made so far with this interdisciplinary structure.