NEW ORLEANS – The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association has recently awarded the Ochsner ALS Center the status of Recognized Treatment Center in the Association’s nation-wide network of Certified Treatment Centers of ExcellenceSM. Since 1998, The ALS Association’s nationwide network has provided evidence-based, multi-disciplinary ALS care and services in a supportive atmosphere with an emphasis on hope and quality of life.
The ALS Association Certified Treatment Center of Excellence Program designs, implements and monitors a national standard of best-practice care in the management of ALS. Certifications are based on established requirements of the program, professionals’ skill sets, people living with ALS served, relationships with local chapters and access to care.
To become a Recognized Treatment Center, each center must meet The ALS Association's clinical care and treatment standards based on the American Academy of Neurology Practice Parameters and successfully complete a comprehensive site review.
“This recognition is a great honor and really highlights the hard work our staff accomplishes every day,” Daniel Larriviere, MD, ALS Center Medical Director, Ochsner Health System, said. “We are excited to offer high quality, timely care to the ALS patients in our region and are happy our work has been recognized by this leading, independent organization.”
The ALS Center at Ochsner offers comprehensive care for patients with this neurological condition and related disorders. Ochsner’s team represents many specialties and uses a collaborative approach to create personalized care plans. The center is modeled after the national guidelines for care that have been developed by the ALS Association of America. In addition, Ochsner collaborates with the Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter of ALSA.
Hospital reps said at Ochsner they understand the challenges patients and their families face every day. The goal is to provide them with the highest quality of care and services in one place. The center allows them to be seen by all of their specialists in one visit, helping to alleviate the difficulties of traveling to multiple appointments throughout the month, reps said. ALS coordinator/ advance practice nurses discuss symptoms and current issues ahead of visits to determine which specialists patients need to see. Ochsner patients with ALS are seen by members of their teams every three months, on the first and third Wednesdays of the month.
