The ALS Association, along with The ALS Association Oregon and SW Washington Chapter, welcomed Oregon Health & Science University ALS Center to the nonprofit organization’s Certified Treatment Center of Excellence Program, establishing the Oregon Health & Science University ALS Center as meeting the highest levels of established national standards of care in the management of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Eventually, people with ALS lose the ability to initiate and control muscle movement, which often leads to total paralysis and death within two to five years of diagnosis. There is currently no cure and no life-prolonging treatments for the disease.
Since 1998, The ALS Association’s national network of Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence has provided evidence-based, multidisciplinary ALS care and services in a supportive atmosphere with an emphasis on hope and quality of life. Each ALS clinic must meet The ALS Association’s clinical care and treatment standards, which are based on the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Practice Parameters, participate in ALS-related research and successfully complete a comprehensive site review to be certified as a Center of Excellence. Achieving certification through successful completion of the program’s robust clinical and administrative reviews confirms to people living with ALS and their family members the validity and comprehensiveness of the Certified Treatment Center of Excellence’s standards of quality and implementation of best practices. “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 Oregon Health & Science University ALS Center for its outstanding multidisciplinary approach to treating people with this devastating disease,” said Lance Christian, Executive Director, ALS Association Oregon and SW Washington Chapter.
Research has shown that multidisciplinary care, or, the practice of having physicians and other healthcare professionals collaborate to provide the most comprehensive treatment plan for patients, helps people with ALS have better quality of life—and prolongs life in most cases. The ALS Association Oregon and SW Washington chapter has a long history supporting multidisciplinary care.
“We are delighted to have met the criteria for becoming a Certified Treatment Center of Excellence,” said Dr. Chafic Karam, M.D. “and are thankful for continued support from The ALS Association Oregon and SW Washington chapter in helping provide the very best care for patients here in our city.”
About The ALS Association Oregon & SW Washington Chapter
The ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization fighting ALS on every front. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people living with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified and recognized treatment centers, and fostering government partnerships, The Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. Since its inception in 2002, The ALS Association Oregon & SW Washington Chapter has the central source for services and education for people with ALS, their families, caregivers, and health care professionals in all of Oregon and the six counties of SW Washington. The progression of ALS varies significantly from one person to another. Responding to each person’s individual needs, the local chapter is available to provide vital services and reliable information through strategic community partnerships.
For more information about The ALS Association, visit our website at www.alsa-or.org
Contact Info:Todd McCallister
The ALS Association Oregon and SW Washington Chapter
[email protected]
503.238.5559 x 102
