Objective: To increase the scale of a medical and community partnership program model for the delivery of comprehensive Parkinson’s Wellness programming.

Background: In 2007, an expert Parkinson’s disease (PD) clinic launched an initiative with a local community center to develop a comprehensive wellness program model designed specifically for the needs of individuals, caregivers and families living with PD. The program has been in high demand since its inception and has proven popular with patients, families and providers.

Methods: A team of medical and community professionals was formed to expand the scale of the program nationally. Expert PD clinics and community centers from around the United States were selected and evaluated for participation in program expansion. Multidisciplinary teams comprised of medical and community professionals from the selected locations participated in program training. The program model is comprised of three group-based components–exercise, support, and education–designed to provide proactive tools to enhance well-being, improve quality of life and complement specialized medical care. These tools are provided within a PD educated, community hub with collaborative support from an expert PD clinic. The benefits of exercise and support are well established in Parkinson’s disease and have been previously described.

Results: The program was adapted first in Boston, MA, and in Rockville, MD, followed by Tampa, FL, and Chicago, IL. Enrollment, satisfaction with the program, and impact on social domains of the patients’ and caregivers’ quality of life are being tracked. Sufficient data on enrollment and impact of the programs are not yet available, but initial feedback is positive.

Conclusions: The program model offers multiple domains of potential benefit in the areas of physical and emotional health for patients and caregivers. Preliminary data suggests that the program model is effective in fostering motivation for participation in programs that aid in physical and psychosocial adaptation to PD. Further study and expansion of the program is being considered. This poster will demonstrate in graphics and narrative the development and growth of this program model. Presented at the 4th World Parkinson Congress, September 20-23, 2016.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/from-local-partnership-to-national-network-the-growth-of-a-medically-connected-community-based-program-model-for-parkinsons-wellness/