The Gold Coast Hepato–Pancreatic and Biliary MDT Meeting: A Service for GPs to Improve Care and Outcomes

A/Prof Harald Puhalla MD FRACS

Suite 4, Level 6 Pacific Private Clinic, 123 Nerang Street (07) 5667 9766 | admin@generalsurgerygoldcoast.com.au | www.weightlossoperation.com.au

Multidisciplinary meetings are a vital aspect of modern medical care. The Gold Coast Liver and Pancreatic Meeting is now firmly established and expanding due to a growing need in the multidisciplinary management of liver and pancreatic pathology in the private sector.

With increasing availability of imaging, it's not uncommon to come across a wide array of liver and pancreatic pathology, some of which are incidental, whilst others are more relevant to the patient's symptoms.

These collaborative meetings bring together health care professionals from related medical disciplines to discuss and coordinate patient care. The meeting is chaired by A/Prof Harald Puhalla, an experienced HPB surgeon who is supported by advanced interventional radiologist Dr Muddassir Rashid (Qld X-ray), the senior gastroenterologist with an interest in liver and pancreatic issues, Dr Kashif Sheikh, and the dedicated HPB surgeon Dr Ramesh Damodaran Prabha.

The team brings together a wide collaborative experience in the field and helps GPs to improve efficiency in patient care, management and outcomes.

The aim of this platform is to keep patients in the care of their GP but still provide specialist guidance, and be able to identify early potential malignant HPB lesions. If imaging reports a benign or potential malignant finding in the liver, bile duct, or pancreas, or if the GP is concerned about any findings, the patient can be referred to the Gold Coast HPB Meeting through a templated pathway. The GPs can refer patients directly to the chair for discussion. Imaging and pathology from any provider are accepted.

The Gold Coast HPB MDT meeting meets once a fortnight and outcomes are communicated via a correspondence back to the GP, either for monitoring or for further investigations. A clinical review of the patient by any of the participating specialists is only intended if a consultation with the patient is indicated for further clarification of the patient’s pathology.

This HPB Multidisciplinary service is free of charge but due to the potential need for further investigations or consultations which would be done outside the public system, we currently can only accept private patients.

To download the referral, please visit: https:// weightlossoperation.com.au/wp-content/ uploads/2023/03/Gold-Coast-HPB-MDTReferral.docx

For referrals, please include full patient details including Medicare/private health, referring GP details, diagnosis, symptoms & duration, comorbidities and medications, plus relevant investigations, pathology, radiology, and endoscopy.

By A/Prof Harald Puhalla (HPB surgeon), Dr Kashif Sheikh (hepatologist), Dr Muddassir Rashid (interventional radiologist), and Dr Ramesh Damodaran Prabha (HPB surgeon).