In our Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Clinic, we are committed to providing comprehensive and compassionate care to our patients and families. We are honored to announce that we have achieved status as an ALS Association Certified Treatment Center of Excellence. The multidisciplinary ALS Clinic, led by neuromuscular neurologist Dr. Hannah Machemehl and nurse practitioner Casey Kafena, went through a rigorous certification process to achieve this status, and it signifies the clinic’s longevity, commitment to the highest quality of care, and partnership with the national ALS Association.
“We look forward to this ongoing partnership with the ALS Association and our dedicated multidisciplinary care team,” says Dr. Machemehl. “This collaboration with ALSA helps us be better equipped to manage our patients’ challenges associated with ALS.”
How We Help Our Patients Manage Life with ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting more than 31,000 people in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Patients have early symptoms of muscle weakness, stiffness, twitching, and atrophy. They may have difficulty speaking, swallowing, and breathing.
We conduct the ALS Clinic at Austin Neuromuscular Center every third Tuesday of the month offering holistic care to ALS patients and their families. Management of ALS requires treatment by coordinating specialists such as neuromuscular neurologists, speech-language pathologists, social workers, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, and others. We bring all of those specialists together at our multidisciplinary ALS Clinic so patients may receive cutting-edge care and support in one location. We also provide our patients the opportunity to participate in clinical trials in the advancement of ALS research.
“It can be challenging for ALS patients and their families to travel to several sites for care,” says Casey. “We want to make it as easy as possible for them to visit one location in our clinic and receive care from a variety of specialists and therapists.”
Requirements of The ALS Association’s Center of Excellence Program
To be named an ALS Association Certified Treatment Center of Excellence, our ALS Clinic met the following requirements:
- We have a strong relationship with the local ALS Association.
- We have a multidisciplinary team of nursing and allied health professionals.
- We have neurologists and a nurse practitioner with the specific knowledge base to evaluate and treat people living with ALS.
- We are actively involved in ALS-related research.
- We have ongoing process improvement initiatives.
To learn more about the ALS Clinic at Austin Neuromuscular Center, click here or call (512) 920-0140. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram for important updates.