ALS Clinics and Centers
ALSA-CT collaborates with ALS physicians and clinics across the United States to help ensure that people living with ALS have access to specialized care, based on best practices. The ALS Association’s Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence and Recognized Treatment Centers provide compassionate care in a supportive, family-oriented atmosphere.
Best practices for ALS include a multidisciplinary care model that brings together a team of health care professionals specially trained to address the needs of people living with ALS, allowing them to receive care from each discipline during a single visit. The care team typically includes a neurologist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, respiratory therapist, nurse, dietitian, speech language pathologist, social worker, mental health professional and an ALS Association Chapter liaison.
Many people living with ALS receive treatment from individual neurologists, hospitals, hospices and VNAs. The ALSA-CT Care Services Team works with anyone providing care.
The ALS Association Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence
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 ALS Association Recognized Treatment Centers
The ALS Association Recognized Treatment Centers have the same high quality approach to multidisciplinary care as The ALS Association Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence; however, they may not offer onsite research or opportunities to participate in clinical trials.
Other ALS Treatment Centers
ALSA-CT works with other ALS medical providers throughout the New England Region and beyond, including neurologists, care facilities, hospices and VNAs. ALSA-CT provides education and support to these practitioners but they are not an official part of the ALS Association's Certification process.