UCLA ALS Clinic becomes 100th Treatment Center of Excellence
ALS Association grants designation for top patient care to 6 clinics across US
The UCLA ALS Clinic and Research Center has been officially designated a Certified Treatment Center of Excellence for people in the U.S. with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — making it the 100th center nationwide to receive such recognition.
This designation, awarded by the ALS Association, means the Los Angeles center meets specific requirements that ensure the highest quality in patient care and disease research.
According to the ALS Association, it assures people with ALS and their loved ones that they will be followed by a multidisciplinary team of experts — including therapists, social workers, and mental health professionals — who will work together to provide the best possible care.
“We are delighted to have met the requirements for becoming a Certified Treatment Center of Excellence and are thankful for continued support from the ALS Association in helping provide the very best care for people living with ALS in Los Angeles,” Martina Wiedau, MD, ALS clinic medical director of the UCLA ALS Clinic and Research Center, said in a press release from the nonprofit, which bills itself as “the largest philanthropic funder of ALS research in the world.”
Five other clinics recently received the ALS Association designation: the University of Colorado ALS Clinic, the UF Health Neuromedicine-Fixel Institute in Florida, the University of Alabama at Birmingham ALS Multidisciplinary Clinic, the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Colorado, and the University of Washington Center for ALS Care in Seattle.
“The certification of the 100th ALS Association Certified Treatment Center of Excellence marks a significant milestone in expanding access to high-quality, specialized care for people living with ALS,” said Kim Maginnis, senior vice president of clinical programs and outreach at the ALS Association.
Certified ALS treatment centers follow model of multidisciplinary care
Certified centers must follow a multidisciplinary care model, which brings together a team of specialists in multiple areas, such as neurologists, pulmonologists, nutritionists, nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists, who work together to create comprehensive treatment plans for ALS patients.
“Our growing network ensures that more people living with ALS and families across the country can receive the highest standard of specialized care no matter where they live. This is a critical part of our plan to make ALS livable and cure it,” Maginnis said.
Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence need to meet rigorous requirements set by the American Academy of Neurology. These include a commitment to maintaining a collaborative relationship with the ALS Association and engaging in ALS-specific research approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Our growing network ensures that more people living with ALS and families across the country can receive the highest standard of specialized care no matter where they live. This is a critical part of our plan to make ALS livable and cure it.
This care model improves convenience for patients, allowing them to receive care from multiple experts during a single visit, and it has been shown to improve quality of life and extend survival.
Nancy Wakefield, managing director of care services of the ALS Association, lauded the UCLA ALS Clinic’s work.
“The care that people receive here is a model for other parts of the country and I’m proud that we are able to recognize UCLA ALS Clinic and Research Center for its outstanding multidisciplinary approach to treating people with this devastating disease,” Wakefield said.
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