Digital tumour board solution enhances case preparation time and reduces postponements: an implementer report

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Inefficiencies and high administrative burdens are commonly reported in multidisciplinary tumour boards (TBs). The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of a digital solution on the common challenges encountered in the urogenital and gynaecology cancer TBs in Central Netherlands. METHODS: A single-arm, mixed-methods observational study was conducted over 32 weeks in 2023. Data were collected from surveys and the Vitaly system across baseline and post implementation TB meetings. RESULTS: The implementation of Vitaly resulted in a 43% reduction in preparation time for urology TBs and a 44% reduction for gynaecology TBs. Postponement rates decreased by nearly 50% for urology and maintained significantly below the 5% acceptable threshold, for both urology and gynaecology TBs. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Despite challenges in data collection due to varied hospital environments, the study showed positive outcomes that underscore the potential benefits of such digital transformation and broader applicability and scalability across various clinical settings.