Cahouet Center Streamlines Access To Comprehensive Parkinson's Care
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
Allegheny Health Network partners with Parkinson Foundation Western Pennsylvania.
Approximately 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s each year with more than half a million Americans affected at any given time. Experts say these figures are tricky, however, because of symptoms that may go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
What is clear, however, is that successful treatment of the disease requires a clear and coordinated plan and services. People with complex, chronic illnesses such as Parkinson's benefit from care provided by an interdisciplinary healthcare team. Collaboration by various healthcare providers can lead to more individualized treatment, a specialized care plan and, ultimately, better quality of life.
Now, Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and the Parkinson Foundation Western Pennsylvania have announced the creation of a new center designed to help patients with Parkinson’s and their families more seamlessly access and coordinate the clinical and support services they require.
According to The National Parkinson’s Foundation, a strong comprehensive care team should include a movement disorder specialist, a general neurologist, primary care providers (PCPs), nurses, a social worker, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a speech-language pathologist, pharmacists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists/psychologists, nutritionists/dieticians, and other specialists.
The Cahouet Center for Comprehensive Parkinson’s Care brings together AHN’s world-class medical expertise and resources of the Parkinson Foundation, creating a multi-disciplinary program that addresses the changing needs of Parkinson’s patients over time.
The Cahouet Center will provide patients with a single point of contact to address any questions or concerns that may arise following diagnosis, along with individualized care plans and personalized follow-up care coordinated by the Parkinson Foundation. The center’s list of specialists will collaborate to create a comprehensive care plan for each patient and family.
“A comprehensive approach to care goes beyond treating just the physical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease,” said Timothy Leichliter, MD, AHN neurologist, Parkinson’s specialist, and Medical Director of the Cahouet Center. “The creation of this center is a natural outgrowth of our longstanding collaborative relationship with the Parkinson Foundation Western Pennsylvania and our efforts to work ‘outside the box’ to improve quality of life for our patients.”
“No two people who have Parkinson’s are alike, so it really does require an individualized care plan for patients to have the best chance of doing well,” said David Von Hofen, MS, Cahouet Center Director and Parkinson Foundation Western Pennsylvania Program Director.
Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease, affecting about one million people in the United States and more than four million worldwide. PD is a progressive disorder that impacts the body’s ability to move. Symptoms may include resting tremor, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), rigidity and postural instability.