|
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 Pennsylvania, 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. |
|
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.
Allegheny Health Network ALS Center
490 E. North Ave., Suite 500
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Phone: (412) 359-8850
Contact: Linda Peffer
Medical Director: Sandeep Rana, MD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Visit website
Contact: Linda Peffer
Medical Director: Sandeep Rana, MD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Visit website
The ALS Clinic at Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital
549 Fair St.
Bloomsburg PA 17814
Bloomsburg PA 17814
Phone: (570) 214-1146
Medical Director: Scott M. Friedenberg, MD
Affiliations: The ALS Association and Muscular Dystrophy Association
Visit website
Medical Director: Scott M. Friedenberg, MD
Affiliations: The ALS Association and Muscular Dystrophy Association
Visit website
The ALS Clinic at Geisinger Wyoming Valley
620 Baltimore Ave.
Wilkes Barre PA 18702
Wilkes Barre PA 18702
Phone: (570) 214-1146
Medical Director: Dr. David Avila
Affiliations: The ALS Association and Muscular Dystrophy Association
Visit website
Medical Director: Dr. David Avila
Affiliations: The ALS Association and Muscular Dystrophy Association
Visit website
Conemaugh Health System ALS Clinic
Conemaugh Neuroscience and Pain Institute
Conemaugh East Hills Outpatient Center
1450 Scalp Avenue, Suite 120
Johnstown, PA 15904
Conemaugh East Hills Outpatient Center
1450 Scalp Avenue, Suite 120
Johnstown, PA 15904
Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center3900 Woodland Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104 |
|
Phone: (215) 823-4331
Medical Director: Colin Quinn, MD
Visit website
Note: This clinic serves military veterans only.
Medical Director: Colin Quinn, MD
Visit website
Note: This clinic serves military veterans only.
Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center
909 Walnut Street, Second Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215) 955-8800
Medical Director: Hristelina Ilevia, MD, PhD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Visit website
Medical Director: Hristelina Ilevia, MD, PhD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Visit website
MDA/ALS Center of Hope at Temple
Temple Neurosciences Center
Temple University Hospital – Main Campus
3401 N. Broad Street
Ambulatory Care Center, Suite D-101
Philadelphia, PA 19140
Temple University Hospital – Main Campus
3401 N. Broad Street
Ambulatory Care Center, Suite D-101
Philadelphia, PA 19140
Phone: (800) 836-7536
Medical Director: Terry D. Heiman-Patterson, MD
Affiliation: Muscular Dystrophy Association
Request an appointment
Visit website
Medical Director: Terry D. Heiman-Patterson, MD
Affiliation: Muscular Dystrophy Association
Request an appointment
Visit website
Neuromuscular and ALS Center for Comprehensive Care
Lehigh Valley Hospital – Lehigh Neurology
1250 S. Cedar Crest Blvd.
Allentown, PA 18103
1250 S. Cedar Crest Blvd.
Allentown, PA 18103
Phone: (610) 402-8420
Medical Director: Alissa Romano, DO and Alison Walsh, MD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Visit website
Medical Director: Alissa Romano, DO and Alison Walsh, MD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Visit website
Penn Comprehensive Neuroscience Center
330 S. 9th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215) 829-3053
Medical Directors: Lauren Elman, MD and Colin Quinn, MD, MSPT
Affiliation: Muscular Dystrophy Association
Visit website
Medical Directors: Lauren Elman, MD and Colin Quinn, MD, MSPT
Affiliation: Muscular Dystrophy Association
Visit website
Penn State Hershey ALS Clinic and Research Center
Department of Neurology, EC037
30 Hope Drive
Hershey, PA 17033
30 Hope Drive
Hershey, PA 17033
Phone: (717) 531-3828
Medical Director: Zachary Simmons, MD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Visit website
Medical Director: Zachary Simmons, MD
Affiliation: The ALS Association
Visit website
MDA-ALS Center at UPMC
UPMC Presbyterian, F872 (HPU 01 08 06)
200 Lothrop Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
200 Lothrop Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Phone: (412) 692-4917
Coordinator: Rebecca Molczan, CRNP
Medical Director: Tawfiq Al-Lahham, MD
Visit website
Coordinator: Rebecca Molczan, CRNP
Medical Director: Tawfiq Al-Lahham, MD
Visit website
UPMC Northshore Neurology
120 E 2nd Street,3rd floor
Erie, PA 16507
Erie, PA 16507
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System1010 Delafield Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15215 |
|
What if there isn't a clinic near me?
|
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! |
