The ALS Association Recognizes the Phil Smith Neuroscience Institute at Holy Cross Health as a Certified Treatment Center of Excellence
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. -- The ALS Association recently certified the ALS multidisciplinary clinic at Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale as Florida’s fifth Certified Treatment Center of Excellence. The Phil Smith Neuroscience Institute received a $25,000 grant from The ALS Association on December 3rd to recognize their status and to help support the care they provide to ALS patients.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is an invariably fatal disease that affects motor neurons taking away an individual’s ability to walk, talk, and eventually breathe.
Multidisciplinary ALS Clinics have emerged as the gold standard for treating and supporting patients with ALS and their families. At a Multidisciplinary ALS Clinic, patients receive comprehensive care from a team of specialists at a single location, on a single day. The team includes a neurologist, specialized nurse case manager, pulmonologist (available as needed), gastroenterologist (available as needed), respiratory therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, dietitian, social worker, psychologist, palliative care expert (available as needed), and an ALS Association Chapter-Clinic Liaison. Multidisciplinary ALS Clinics coordinate care and interface with the primary care physician, local neurologist, and community-based services.
“The ALS Association’s Florida Chapter is proud to work closely with the clinical teams at Holy Cross Health,” said Ray Carson, president and CEO of The ALS Association Florida Chapter. “Even though ALS is currently incurable, studies have clearly demonstrated that patients who attend a Multidisciplinary ALS Clinic have 40 percent longer survival rates while also benefiting from an improved quality of life.”
About The ALS Association Florida Chapter
Since 1987, The ALS Association Florida Chapter has been “covering all the bases for people living with ALS in Florida." We provide patient programs, advocate on behalf of patients with our government leaders, create awareness of the disease, and fund research. In addition, the organization provides financial support to our statewide multidisciplinary ALS clinics and research facilities, enabling them to increase patient care. For more information, visit us on our website at www.als.org/florida or on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @ALSFlorida.
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(Pictured from left to right):
- Stan Meadows, MBA, Executive Director of NSI at Holy Cross Health
- Taren Ruggiero, MSN, RN, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Holy Cross Health
- Dr. Eduardo Locatelli, MD, MPH, Co-Director, Phil Smith ALS Clinic and Clinical Research Center
- Dr. Lauren Tabor Gray, PhD, CCC-SLP, Co-Director, Phil Smith ALS Clinic and Clinical Research Center
- Jessica Collins, MBA, Director of Care Services at The ALS Association Florida Chapter
- Tina Duane, Regional Program Manager Southeast FL at The ALS Association Florida Chapter
