| Outreach to Health Professionals Improve care for People Living with MS |
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Five years ago, Carolyn, a 33-year old mother of two, walked into
her doctor's office to have some unexplained numbness in her hand
checked out. She walked out of that sameoffice with the knowledge
that she might have MS, but with little else in the way of reassurance or information
from her doctor to help her understand what that diagnosis might mean.
As the number of people living with multiple sclerosis
continues to grow, so does the need for heightened awareness and more
informed care from the medical community. MS manifests itself differently
from person to person, making both recognizing and treating the condition
a significant challenge for healthcare professionals. In addition, awareness about
symptoms, available treatments and how patients experience living with MS is limited
- even among healthcare professionals.
"Our goal is to make sure that whenever a patient seeks out care, they receive it from
a professional who fully understands MS and all of the ways that it can affect their
physical health," said Coleen Friedman, Manager of Education Programs at the
Greater Illinois Chapter.
Nurses are often among the first healthcare professionals to identify symptoms
of MS. The Chapter's recently added course "Early Diagnosis and Early Treatment
of MS: What Nurses Need to Know," outlines current guidelines for diagnosing
MS and explains the importance of getting -- and keeping --patients on a
disease modifying drug. This year, 100 nurses have been trained by the
Chapter and three additional education sessions are scheduled for this summer.
An even broader educational effort is underway with home health professionals -
1,200 of whom have already been trained by the Chapter this year.
Home care can be a great boon to people living with MS, but hiring
a home health worker who is knowledgeable about the disease is critical.
To help providers understand the unique challenges faced by people living
with MS, the National MS Society created "Providing Quality Care to People
with MS," an in-service training course for certified nursing assistants,
personal care aides and home care aides. The curriculum increases
awareness of the disease, ensures sensitive, high-quality and appropriate
care and fosters a sense of comfort in providing care to people living with MS.
Medical professional education programs will be an ongoing program at the Chapter.
For upcoming classes, or for information about involving your healthcare providers
in this program, please call the Chapter at 1-800-FIGHT MS and press 2 to reach
the Chapter Programs department. If you are a healthcare provider who wants to
work with the Chapter to provide educational programs, you can reach our
Volunteer Department at that same phone number.
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