The Herald
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Quality of Life:

New center takes holistic approach to Parkinson’s
By Sharon Salyer
Herald Writer


A new Parkinson’s Disease center, thought to be only the second
comprehensive treatment center of its kind in the nation, will open in
Kirkland in July.

“The approach here is holistic; you don’t treat the tremor but the whole
patient, the caregivers and the family,” said Bill Bell, executive director
of the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, which was instrumental in
establishing the center.

The result, he said, is a higher quality of life for those affected by the
disease.

The specialty center will be based at Evergreen Hospital Medical Center.  It
is expected to draw patients from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and
Alaska.

Parkinson’s is a degenerative nerve condition most often associated with the
elderly but which can strike as early as age 30.  One in seven Parkinson’s
patients is under 50.

Former Gov. Booth Gardner, for whom the Kirkland center will be named, and
actor Michael J. Fox are among the well-known personalities who have been
diagnosed with the disease.

An estimated 36,000 people have Parkinson’s in Washington.  In the Puget
Sound region, nearly 20,000 are thought to have it.

The disease is often misdiagnosed, particularly in its early stages, said
Tony McCormick, Evergreen’s manager of neurological services.

One indication of the demand for information on the topic: An educational
course on the latest developments in treating the disease, held at Evergreen
in February, was packed with 180 people, some of whom stood in the aisles.

There is no cute for the disease, so the center will focus on adaptive
techniques to help patients regain skills in the workplace or around the
home.

“We hope to set a standard of care with this that we can promote for other
clinics and practices,” Bell said.

In addition to seeing a neurologist, patients coming to the Kirkland center
will receive consultation from a movement disorder specialist, a nurse
practitioner, a dietitian, a neuro-psychologist, a physical therapist, an
occupational therapist and a doctor specializing in treating pain.

“At the end of the day, you’ll listen to what they suggest can be done to
help you achieve the greatest possible quality of life,” Bell said.

The difference such specialty care can make was shown by the case of a
78-year-old Redmond patient.  He was referred to Evergreen by his doctor
earlier this year because of the hospital’s expertise in the disease, even
though center hadn’t opened.

His tremors had become so pronounced that he was unable to garden.  After
consultation with Evergreen physicians, he was given adaptive tools that
allowed him to return to his hobby.
‘Quality of life is much more than being alive,” McCormick said.  “It’s
helping people to be as free and independent as they can be.’

Modeled on a similar center in Minnesota, the Kirkland center is thought to
be the only other multi-disciplinary treatment center in the nation for
Parkinson’s patients.

Parkinson’s disease causes rigidity, tremor and slowness of movement. This
summer, tai chi classes will be offered to help these patients improve
balance and use of muscles.

One of the problems for Parkinson’s patients is that treatment and therapies
are rarely paid for by health insurance beyond four weeks, Bell said.

“It’s not for a lifetime,” Bell said. That’s part of the issue.’

That’s why there are so few specialty clinics working with movement
disorders such as Parkinson’s, he said.

Patients who are referred by the doctors to the new center, however, should
be eligible to -have their treatment plan covered by health insurance, he
said.

The Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation estimates that the center will lose
$1.5 million in its first five years of operation. These costs will be split
between the nonprofit group and the hospital, Bell said.

The 5,000-square-foot diagnosis and treatment center will be headed by Dr.
Monique Giroux, a neurologist who is a movement disorder specialist. Some
250 people are expected to be treated in its first year.  The center will be
housed in an existing building on the hospital’s campus. Start-up costs are
approximately $150,000.  Respite care will be available three days a week,
providing educational, exercise and recreational programs for patients with
advanced Parkinson’s.

Bill Bell
Executive Director
Northwest Parkinson's Foundation
425-746-5556 / [log in to unmask]
http://www.nwpf.org