At UVA Health, a Comprehensive Approach to Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is difficult to manage. The neurological condition, which causes uncontrollable movements and difficulty with balance, coordination and speech, requires a huge range of care and specialists – neurologists, physical and speech therapists, nutritionists and more. Usually each of those requires a stop at a different hospital, health care system or provider’s office, meaning juggling the travel in between appointments is just another thing the patient or their caretaker must deal with.
That changed at the University of Virginia Health system, which in July opened a clinic targeted at providing comprehensive care for Parkinson’s disease. The clinic not only offers patients one place where care is coordinated between everyone from neurosurgeons to social workers, but a groundbreaking treatment pioneered at UVA, focused ultrasound, which treats the shaking and rigidity caused by Parkinson’s. The clinic also aims to facilitate clinical research studies, reduce emergency department visits and improve quality of life both for the patient and caregiver. The care team identifies patients who will receive the most benefit from this comprehensive level of care.