Boundary objects in the multidisciplinary care management of chronic conditions: multiple chemical sensitivity.

Chronic conditions such as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) are a significant challenge to the health care system as they are poorly understood, poorly documented and lack accepted or standardized treatment strategies. Research has shown that the successful management of patients with such conditions requires a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and the comprehensive assessment of factors contributing to the ill health. Results from two studies that have shown reduction in health care costs and improvement in symptoms for patients with MCS are presented. We explore the use of a controlled clinical vocabulary as a boundary object in care documents to facilitate collaborative management of patients with MCS.