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ALS Certified Treatment Center of Excellence
About the ALS Certified Treatment Center of Excellence
At the AHN Neuroscience Institute’s ALS Center, we provide our patients with personalized care from ALS specialists who are using the latest in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), sometimes referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, treatment and therapies.
Our ALS Center is recognized as a Certified Treatment Center of Excellence by the ALS Association and its western Pennsylvania chapter. We were the first center in western Pennsylvania to earn this designation. This means the AHN ALS Center has shown “evidence-based, multidisciplinary ALS care and services in a supportive atmosphere emphasizing hope and quality of life,” according to the ALS Association.
We pride ourselves on this designation because it demonstrates the dedication we have to improving our patients’ lives as they navigate ALS. Through continuing research, comprehensive care and treatment from ALS specialists, and a compassionate approach, our goal is for each patient to experience an improved sense of well-being.
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Appointments
Neuroscience Institute
Why choose AHN for ALS treatment options?
ALS care is highly personal. At AHN, we see you and work to develop tailored treatment plans that support our patients and their families. We are focused on care plans that enhance our ALS patients’ lives, while providing comfort and additional resources. Patients and families choose AHN for our:
- Neuromuscular expertise: Our specialists are highly regarded nationally for their expertise in neuromuscular disorders. For more than two decades, our ALS Center has helped hundreds of patients maximize their abilities, experience symptom relief, and live longer lives.
- Team approach: At AHN’s ALS Center, physicians work closely with respiratory and other therapists, nutrition experts, and mental health specialists to address all your needs – in one place.
- Novel therapies: At AHN, you have access to a range of therapies, including new medications, before they are widely available. We were one of the first health systems in the United States to offer patients the new treatment Radicava®*, an intravenous (IV) medication.
- Coordinated care: Dedicated team members help you navigate health insurance authorization programs so you can start benefiting from new therapies sooner. And when a medication requires in-home support, we send caring nurses to your home to monitor your health and provide support.
- Extensive support services: Our mental health specialists help patients and their families develop coping strategies to deal with the emotional challenges of ALS. We can also coordinate resources to make a patient’s home handicap accessible.
ALS Certified Treatment Center of Excellence FAQs
Seeking treatment for ALS is an important and significant step. Finding a health organization with ALS specialists who provide care in an ALS Clinic can make a significant difference in finding the right ALS treatment options. The AHN ALS Certified Treatment Center of Excellence serves those who are navigating the effects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach using advanced, leading-edge treatment options. In addition, your care team is available to answer your questions and talk with you about any concerns you may have.
To help you get started with trusted information that can help guide your conversations, we have included a couple of our patients' most frequently asked questions.
How is ALS treated?
ALS treatment involves a comprehensive and highly personalized approach, combining medications, supportive therapies, and emerging new treatments. While there's currently no cure, the primary goals of ALS treatment options are to manage symptoms, slow disease progression, and significantly improve the patient's quality of life.
Key elements include:
- Medications: Approved drugs like riluzole and edaravone help slow disease progression. For specific genetic forms, such as SOD1-ALS, targeted therapies like tofersen are now available. Medications also address symptoms like muscle cramps, pain, and breathing difficulties.
- Supportive therapies: A multidisciplinary team provides personalized care through physical, occupational, and speech therapy to maintain function and adapt to changes. Respiratory support and nutritional guidance are crucial for managing breathing and feeding challenges.
- New therapies and advancements: Research is rapidly advancing, with a strong focus on genetic therapies, biomarker identification, and stem cell research. These efforts aim to develop more effective, targeted treatments for various forms of ALS.
This integrated approach ensures that each patient receives tailored care, maximizing their functional abilities and comfort.
What type of doctor treats ALS?
ALS is primarily treated by ALS specialists. That team often includes a neurologist, specifically one who specializes in neuromuscular diseases and who can provide care within a dedicated ALS clinic. However, given the complex and multifaceted nature of ALS care, treatment involves a comprehensive multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals. While the neurologist typically serves as the primary coordinator of care, other specialists including pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, physiatrists, and therapists all play crucial roles.
ALS Certified Treatment Center of Excellence treatment
Our specialists are highly regarded nationally for their expertise in neuromuscular disorders and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) treatment. Since 2003, our ALS Center has helped patients maximize their abilities, experience symptom relief, and live longer lives.
Therapies and support
At AHN, you have access to a range of therapies, including new medications, before they are widely available. Other therapies and support from ALS specialists include:
- Physical therapy: Used to help maintain mobility, strength, and range of motion for as long as possible.
- Occupational therapy: This helps patients adapt to daily tasks and maintain independence, often through adaptive equipment and strategies.
- Speech-language pathology: Sometimes, ALS can affect speech. Specialists can help address communication difficulties (dysarthria) and swallowing problems (dysphagia), including alternative communication methods and dietary modifications.
- Respiratory therapy: Used to monitor and manage breathing issues, which may include noninvasive ventilation, i.e., BiPAP/AVAP.
- Nutritional support: Dietitians help manage weight loss and ensure adequate nutrition, which is crucial for overall health and well-being.
- Psychosocial support: Social workers and counselors provide emotional support, help navigate resources, and connect patients and families with support groups.
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RADICAVA, RADICAVA ORS, and the RADICAVA ORS logo are registered trademarks of Shionogi Inc.
ALS Certified Treatment Center of Excellence specialists
Our team of doctors and specialists at the ALS Certified Treatment Center of Excellence are dedicated to providing each patient with the tailored care and treatment they need in their ALS diagnosis.
Neurology, neuromuscular medicine, clinical neurophysiology, clinical professor at Drexel University
Additional care
- Lauren Schuster
certified registered nurse practitioner - Ian Lonich
physical therapy - Christine Delfino
speech-language pathology - Olivia Bressler
registered dietitian
How to get care
If you want to be tested for or have been diagnosed with ALS, we’re here to help.
Your initial appointment at the clinic is used to get a full picture of your health and usually takes a significant amount of time. Bringing snacks, water, a notebook, and a trusted family member or friend is helpful in making the appointment go smoothly and easily. Patients will meet with a variety of specialists in our multidisciplinary clinic, each creating their own plan of care based on the patient's specific needs.
Appointments
In order to see patients, a referral to the clinic is needed from your primary care doctor. After we receive the referral, our clinical coordinator will reach out to you to get an appointment scheduled. If you prefer, you can schedule your own appointment or learn more about services at the AHN ALS Certified Treatment Center of Excellence by calling 412-359-8850.
Find us
ALS Certified Treatment Center of Excellence
320 E. North Ave, Hemlock Bldg. 3rd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
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Clinical trials and research
Our neuromuscular specialists are active in ongoing ALS research and clinical trials. We are studying new medications and prosthetics technologies, such as hand splints and speech devices, that can help improve the lives of people affected by ALS.
What is a clinical trial?
Clinical trials are studies that try to answer questions about new ways to treat conditions with medications, radiation, or surgical techniques. Previous trials have shown how new methods of treatment improve survival and quality of life.
You participate in a clinical trial only if you volunteer to do so and meet criteria for inclusion in the study, and you can stop participating in a trial at any time.
Who can join a clinical trial?
The plan for the trial, called a protocol, explains what the trial will do and how the study will be done. Based on the questions the research is trying to answer, each clinical trial protocol outlines specific criteria necessary to be eligible to join the trial.
Common criteria for entering a trial are:
- Having a certain condition.
- Having received a certain kind of therapy in the past.
- Being in a certain age group.
- Federal rules help ensure that clinical trials are run in an ethical manner, with your rights and safety protected. It’s to ensure that you’re not put at increased risk by participating in the trial, and that the results of the study are accurate and meaningful.
Currently active clinical trials
If you would like to participate in a clinical trial and help our innovative team discover groundbreaking health solutions, ask your doctor if you’re eligible to participate in one. Find currently active clinical trials that are open for participation.
Refer your patient to an AHN specialist
There are two ways for medical professionals, who are not a part of Allegheny Health Network, to refer their patients to an AHN specialist and request their first appointment. You can:
- Call (412) DOCTORS 412-362-8677.
- Go to Find Care to find the right AHN specialist and the most convenient location. Then refer your patient, provide relevant patient details, and request an appointment directly from the doctor's profile.
For more information about referring your patient to an AHN specialist, read the Independent Physician Referral FAQs.
After referring your patient
Once your patient is receiving care from an AHN specialist, you can view their test results, see their treatment plan, follow their treatment progress, and collaborate with our team using the EpicCare® Link™ platform.
If you are new to EpicCare Link, or need to request your own EpicCare Link account, read: EpicCare Link for Patient Follow-up, for user instructions and new account request forms.
When EpicCare Link is not an option for a patient's AHN medical records
If you can’t access your patient's AHN test results through the EpicCare Link platform, your patient will need to complete and submit the correct AHN Medical Records Release form, based on their state of residency. Support your patient’s request by downloading the correct medical records release form for them:
AHN Medical Records Release Form for New York state residents
EpicCare® is a registered trademark of Epic Systems Corporation and used with permission.
EpicCare® Link™ is a trademark of Epic Systems Corporation and used with permission.