Multidisciplinary Approach

The MDA/ALS Center of Hope at Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine is dedicated to a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. This means that upon visiting the center, the individual with ALS will be seen by a team of healthcare professionals who will approach each case from every medical angle.

During a single visit, the PALS and their caregivers meet with every member of our team. Although this obviously means that the visit will be long, it also ensures that it is comprehensive. The multidisciplinary approach evolved so that all of the individual's needs and problems can be addressed at each and every visit. It also allows the team members to communicate much more effectively and share information, improving the quality of care for each patient.

The team at the Center of Hope is devoted to providing optimal care of individuals with ALS, and to participating in the search for a cure through clinical research. Click here to meet the staff. For an update on the national recommendations regarding multidisciplinary care, click here for the American Academy of Neurology's Practice Parameter Report on Multidisciplinary Care.

FAQs About Clinic

How do I contact someone at the Center? Where is it located?

Please call our clinic office to get more information or to make an appointment. 

Office Phone: 215-707-5649       Fax: 215-707-8235

The MDA/ALS Center of Hope is located at:

Temple University Health Campus

3401 N Broad St
D101, Parkinson Pavilion
Philadelphia, PA 19140

Valet parking is on the Parkinson’s side of the entrance, immediately on your right when you turn on Tioga. Alternatively, you can park in the Boyer Parking Lot and cross Tioga to our Center on the first floor next to the coffee shop.

As soon as you turn onto Tioga Street from Broad Street, the Boyer Parking Lot is immediately on your LEFT. Valet parking is immediately on your RIGHT. Parking for our PALS is paid for by the ALS Hope Foundation. We will provide a voucher at your visit whether you self-park in the Boyer Pavilion Lot or valet. 

Will I receive a diagnosis during my first visit?

This answer depends on where you are in the diagnostic process. Making a diagnosis of ALS takes time and is not undertaken lightly by our neurologists. If this is your first visit with us, the neurologist will most likely request specific follow-up tests. The intake person will request certain medical records as well when the appointment is made. You can expect a full discussion including diagnostic possibilities.

How long will my visit be?

You will meet with multiple team members during your visit, so you should expect to spend either the morning, from 9:00am to 12:00pm, or the afternoon, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, with us. We know it is a long visit but we try to make it run as smoothly as possible! 

What clinic team members will I see during my visit?

You can expect to see all of the team members during your clinic visit! The ALS Hope Foundation supports a full multi-disciplinary team clinic visit and you will only be billed for the physician appointment.

You will see your neurologist and other healthcare professionals, including the nurse coordinator, social worker, respiratory therapist, mental health specialist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech language pathologist, and dietician. In addition, a liaison from the ALS Hope Foundation is available for assistance.

Telemedicine

The ability to provide telemedicine visits was essential to working with everyone through the pandemic. As the restrictions lifted, we returned to in-person visits. There may still be instances where telemedicine is necessary, however, so we will leave this information in place for now.

Here is some information on a few of the virtual options: 

Phone calls can be done on either mobile or land lines. If you have the ability to do Face Time (or similar) on your mobile phone, that would enhance the visit if the health care professional needs to see some aspect of the visit. We need to know your phone number for this option. 

Zoom is a communications platform that allows for a video meeting and can include multiple attendees. It can be accessed through a smart phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. The video can be seen by all parties who share, similar to Face Time or Skype. The host, the one who starts the meeting, can share their screen with you, too. We need to know your email address for this option. Here is a YouTube Video describing how to join a Zoom meeting.