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Attending an ALS clinic may be the single most important thing you can do to improve your quality of life.
Below you will find contact information for ALS clinics in California, as well as tips for contacting them, scheduling an appointment, and preparing for a successful first visit. Military veterans: You will also want to read about ALS clinics at the VA. |
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how to contact a clinic
– Some clinics allow you to schedule an appointment online, but most require you to call. Due to patient privacy laws and concerns, most clinics will not email with you. After you register, though, you can often communicate through their online patient portal.
– When you call, you may reach the ALS clinic coordinator directly, or you may be routed to the hospital front desk. Ask for the ALS clinic, or the neurology department.
– If you are unable to speak with the right person, check our listing to see if the clinic is affiliated with The ALS Association or Muscular Dystrophy Association. If so, contact that organization for assistance.
– When you call, you may reach the ALS clinic coordinator directly, or you may be routed to the hospital front desk. Ask for the ALS clinic, or the neurology department.
– If you are unable to speak with the right person, check our listing to see if the clinic is affiliated with The ALS Association or Muscular Dystrophy Association. If so, contact that organization for assistance.
Questions to ask
Every clinic is different. Some require a doctor's referral or proof of diagnosis before you can schedule an appointment. Most accept Medicare and Medicaid, though private insurance coverage will vary. Once you're talking with the person who schedules appointments for the ALS clinic, ask:
– Do I need a doctor's referral or proof of diagnosis to schedule an appointment?
– Do I need to be registered with The ALS Association or Muscular Dystrophy Association in order to schedule an appointment?
– Do you accept my insurance/Medicare/Medicaid?
– Do you have an estimate of what I might need to pay out of pocket?
If you are concerned about cost, ask if there is any financial assistance available and talk with your local ALS organization.
– Do I need a doctor's referral or proof of diagnosis to schedule an appointment?
– Do I need to be registered with The ALS Association or Muscular Dystrophy Association in order to schedule an appointment?
– Do you accept my insurance/Medicare/Medicaid?
– Do you have an estimate of what I might need to pay out of pocket?
If you are concerned about cost, ask if there is any financial assistance available and talk with your local ALS organization.
Tips for a successful visit
Before your visit
– Arrange for transportation to the clinic well ahead of time. Ask a family member or friend to drive and stay with you during the entire appointment. You can also investigate ride services and public transportation options or ask your local ALS organization if they have travel grants or other suggestions.
– In the time before your appointment, make a complete list of any questions you have about physical symptoms, mental health concerns, equipment, or anything else.
During your visit
– If your appointment is at a large hospital, ask at the front desk for the ALS clinic. If they do not know about the clinic, give the name of the clinic's medical director, or ask for the neurology department.
– During your visit, specialists will rotate to see you individually. Have questions ready for each person, as needed. Do not hesitate to ask anything that concerns you.
– If a family member or friend is with you, ask him or her to take notes. During doctor visits, it can be hard to absorb everything in real time. If you are alone and able to take notes, it will help you remember details between visits.
– During the visit, primary caregivers can ask to speak with the social worker independently to discuss challenges or concerns.
– Before leaving, schedule your next appointment and make sure you have an easy way to contact the clinic coordinator, who is often the nurse or social worker.
After your visit
– Your medical team will meet as a group to discuss your situation. After your visit, they will contact you with recommendations for care and equipment.
– It is usually wise to follow their recommendations. Your team of experts has seen thousands of ALS patients and is making these suggestions to improve your quality of life.
– If you have questions about how to follow the recommendations, call your clinic coordinator.
– You may wish to share your notes and/or the team's recommendations with loved ones so that everyone is on the same page.
– If a question or concern arises between visits, do not hesitate to call your clinic coordinator.
– Jot down any questions you have for your next visit.
– Arrange for transportation to the clinic well ahead of time. Ask a family member or friend to drive and stay with you during the entire appointment. You can also investigate ride services and public transportation options or ask your local ALS organization if they have travel grants or other suggestions.
– In the time before your appointment, make a complete list of any questions you have about physical symptoms, mental health concerns, equipment, or anything else.
During your visit
– If your appointment is at a large hospital, ask at the front desk for the ALS clinic. If they do not know about the clinic, give the name of the clinic's medical director, or ask for the neurology department.
– During your visit, specialists will rotate to see you individually. Have questions ready for each person, as needed. Do not hesitate to ask anything that concerns you.
– If a family member or friend is with you, ask him or her to take notes. During doctor visits, it can be hard to absorb everything in real time. If you are alone and able to take notes, it will help you remember details between visits.
– During the visit, primary caregivers can ask to speak with the social worker independently to discuss challenges or concerns.
– Before leaving, schedule your next appointment and make sure you have an easy way to contact the clinic coordinator, who is often the nurse or social worker.
After your visit
– Your medical team will meet as a group to discuss your situation. After your visit, they will contact you with recommendations for care and equipment.
– It is usually wise to follow their recommendations. Your team of experts has seen thousands of ALS patients and is making these suggestions to improve your quality of life.
– If you have questions about how to follow the recommendations, call your clinic coordinator.
– You may wish to share your notes and/or the team's recommendations with loved ones so that everyone is on the same page.
– If a question or concern arises between visits, do not hesitate to call your clinic coordinator.
– Jot down any questions you have for your next visit.
Greater Los Angeles
Cedars-Sinai ALS Clinic
127 S. San Vincente Boulevard
Advanced Health Sciences Pavilion, 6th Floor
Los Angeles CA 90048
Advanced Health Sciences Pavilion, 6th Floor
Los Angeles CA 90048
Phone: (310) 423-1525
Medical Director: Richard Lewis, M.D.
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Visit website
Medical Director: Richard Lewis, M.D.
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Visit website
Harbor-UCLA ALS Clinic
1000 W. Carson St. N-24
Torrance, CA 90509
Torrance, CA 90509
Kaiser Permanente ALS Clinic (Fontana)
Fontana Medical Center – Department of Neurology
9985 Sierra Ave.
Fontana, CA 92335
9985 Sierra Ave.
Fontana, CA 92335
Phone: (909) 427-5911
Medical Director: Vinh Dang, MD
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Medical Director: Vinh Dang, MD
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Kaiser Permanente ALS Clinic (South Bay)
Neurology Department
25965 S. Normandie Ave
Harbor City, CA 90710
25965 S. Normandie Ave
Harbor City, CA 90710
Phone: (424) 328-2020
Medical Director: Scott Miller, MD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Medical Director: Scott Miller, MD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Kaiser Permanente ALS Clinic (Los Angeles)
Los Angeles Medical Center – Neurology
1505 N Edgemont Street, 5th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90027
1505 N Edgemont Street, 5th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone: (800) 954-8000
Medical Director: Nazanin Matloubi, MD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Medical Director: Nazanin Matloubi, MD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Kaiser Permanente ALS Clinic (Riverside)
Riverside Medical Center – Department of Neurology
10800 Magnolia Ave
Riverside, CA 92505
10800 Magnolia Ave
Riverside, CA 92505
Phone: (951) 353-4360
Medical Director: Carol Van Patten, MD
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Medical Director: Carol Van Patten, MD
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Kaiser Permanente ALS Clinic (Woodland Hills)
5601 De Soto Ave.
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Phone: (855) 892-0919
Medical Director: Ryan Hansen, M.D.
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Medical Director: Ryan Hansen, M.D.
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Keck Medicine of USC ALS Clinic
1520 San Pablo St, Suite 3000
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Los Angeles, CA 90033
The Center for Restorative Neurology at Loma Linda University Neurology
11370 Anderson St, Suite B100
Loma Linda, CA 92354
Loma Linda, CA 92354
Phone: (909) 558-2880
Medical Director: Jeffrey Rosenfeld, MD, PhD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
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Medical Director: Jeffrey Rosenfeld, MD, PhD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Visit website
MDA/ALS Center at UCLA
UCLA Neurological Services
300 UCLA Medical Plaza, Suite B200
Los Angeles, CA 90095
300 UCLA Medical Plaza, Suite B200
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Phone: (310) 794-1195
Medical Director: Martina Wiedau, MD
Affiliation: Muscular Dystrophy Association
Visit website
Medical Director: Martina Wiedau, MD
Affiliation: Muscular Dystrophy Association
Visit website
MDA/ALS Center at The University of California, Irvine
200 South Manchester Ave, Suite 110
Orange, CA 92868
Orange, CA 92868
Phone: (714) 456-2332
Medical Director: Tahseen Mozaffar, MD, FAAN
Affiliation: Muscular Dystrophy Association
Visit website
Medical Director: Tahseen Mozaffar, MD, FAAN
Affiliation: Muscular Dystrophy Association
Visit website
VA Long Beach Healthcare System5901 East 7th Street
Long Beach, CA 90822 |
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Veteran's Administration, West Los Angeles11301 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90073 |
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Phone: (310) 478-3711
Medical Director: Nasheed Jamal, MD
Visit website
Note: This clinic serves military veterans only.
Medical Director: Nasheed Jamal, MD
Visit website
Note: This clinic serves military veterans only.
Bay Area / Northern California
Forbes Norris ALS Research and Treatment Center
California Pacific Medical Center
1100 Van Ness, 6th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94109
1100 Van Ness, 6th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: (415) 600-3604
Contact: Marian Leon, MPH, BSN, RN, CHPN
Medical Directors: Jonathan Katz, MD and Liberty Jenkins, MD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
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Contact: Marian Leon, MPH, BSN, RN, CHPN
Medical Directors: Jonathan Katz, MD and Liberty Jenkins, MD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Visit website
Kaiser Permanente ALS Clinic (Martinez)
200 Muir Rd.
Martinez, CA 94553
Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: (925) 372-1768
Medical Directors: Amir Sabouri, M.D., Ph.D. and Joanna Dearlove M.D.
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Medical Directors: Amir Sabouri, M.D., Ph.D. and Joanna Dearlove M.D.
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Kaiser Permanente ALS Clinic (San Francisco)
ALS Multidisciplinary Clinic
Neurology Department
450 6th Avenue, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94118
Neurology Department
450 6th Avenue, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94118
Phone: (415) 833-2202
Medical Director: Aaron Lewis, MD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Medical Director: Aaron Lewis, MD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Kaiser Permanente ALS Clinic (San Jose)
San Jose Hospital – Department of Neurology
275 Hospital Parkway
San Jose, CA 95119
275 Hospital Parkway
San Jose, CA 95119
Phone: (408) 972-3000
Medical Director: Will Adlai North, MD
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Medical Director: Will Adlai North, MD
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Kaiser Permanente ALS Clinic (San Leandro)
San Leandro Medical Center – Department of Neurology
2500 Merced St.
San Leandro, CA 94577
2500 Merced St.
San Leandro, CA 94577
Phone: (510) 454-3180
Medical Director: Will Adlai North, MD
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Medical Director: Will Adlai North, MD
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Kaiser Permanente ALS Clinic (San Rafael)
San Rafael Medical Center
99 Montecillo Road
San Rafael, CA 94903
99 Montecillo Road
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 444-2000
Medical Director: Lynda Lam, MD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Medical Director: Lynda Lam, MD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Kaiser Permanente ALS Clinic (Walnut Creek)
1425 S. Main Street
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Phone: (925) 295-6953
Medical Director: Amir H. Sabouri, MD, PhD
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Medical Director: Amir H. Sabouri, MD, PhD
Note: You can only attend this clinic if you have Kaiser health insurance.
Stanford MDA/ALS Neuroscience
213 Quarry Rd, 1st Floor
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Phone: (650) 723-6469
Medical Director: John W. Day, MD
Affiliation: Muscular Dystrophy Association
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Medical Director: John W. Day, MD
Affiliation: Muscular Dystrophy Association
Visit website
UCSF ALS & Neurodegenerative Disease Center
400 Parnassus Ave., Eighth Floor
San Francisco, CA 94143
San Francisco, CA 94143
Phone: (415) 353-2122
Medical Director: Catherine Lomen-Hoerth, MD, PhD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Visit website
Medical Director: Catherine Lomen-Hoerth, MD, PhD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Visit website
UCSF ALS & Neurodegenerative Disease Center (Monterey)
2 Upper Ragsdale Rd.
Monterey, CA 93940
Monterey, CA 93940
UCSF ALS & Neurodegenerative Disease Center (Santa Rosa)
100 Brookwood Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Veteran's Administration, Palo AltoVA Palo Alto Heath Care System
3801 Miranda Ave Palo Alto, CA 94304 |
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Phone: (650) 493-5000
Medical Director: Richard J. Reiner, MD
Visit website
Note: This clinic serves military veterans only.
Medical Director: Richard J. Reiner, MD
Visit website
Note: This clinic serves military veterans only.
Veteran's Administration, San Francisco4150 Clement St, Stop 15INC
San Francisco, CA 94121 |
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Phone: (415) 551-7300
Medical Director: Viktoriya Irodenko, MD
Visit website
Note: This clinic serves military veterans only.
Medical Director: Viktoriya Irodenko, MD
Visit website
Note: This clinic serves military veterans only.
Central Valley
Forbes Norris ALS Research and Treatment Center
Sacramento Satellite Clinic
1315 Alhambra Blvd., Suite 210
Sacramento, CA 95816
1315 Alhambra Blvd., Suite 210
Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone: (415) 600-3604
Medical Director: Jonathan Katz, MD
Case Manager: Bob Osborne, RN
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Medical Director: Jonathan Katz, MD
Case Manager: Bob Osborne, RN
Visit website
UC Davis Multidisciplinary ALS Clinic
UC Davis Medical Center, Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center
4860 Y Street, Suite 1700
Sacramento, CA 95817
4860 Y Street, Suite 1700
Sacramento, CA 95817
Phone: (916) 734-7041
Medical Director: Dr. Nanette Joyce
Affiliation: The ALS Association
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Medical Director: Dr. Nanette Joyce
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Visit website
UCSF ALS & Neurodegenerative Disease Center (Fresno)
2335 E Kashian Ln., Suite 301
Fresno, CA 93701
Fresno, CA 93701
UCSF ALS & Neurodegenerative Disease Center (Modesto)
1444 Florida Ave., Suite 100
Modesto, CA 95350
Modesto, CA 95350
San Diego
UC San Diego ALS Center
200 West Arbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92103
San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 543-5300
Medical Director: John Ravits, MD, FAAN
Affiliation: The ALS Association
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Medical Director: John Ravits, MD, FAAN
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Visit website
What if there isn't a clinic near me?
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Attending an ALS clinic—once every two or three months—may be the single most important thing you can do to extend your life and improve your quality of life. If you are able to make the drive or arrange for transportation, we strongly recommend going.
If there is not a multidisciplinary ALS clinic near you, there may be other clinics or neurologists at hospitals, private practices, or universities who specialize in ALS. Contact your local ALS Association or Muscular Dystrophy Association chapter to ask about your options. You may also want to search for clinics in neighboring states that may be closer to you. If transportation to the clinic is a challenge, ask your local chapter if they have travel grants, resources, or suggestions. |
Did we miss something?Is there an ALS clinic we missed? Is any information out of date? Email us to help keep the directory current. Thank you! |
