The ALS Center at Hackensack University Medical Center was recently awarded the respected distinction of an ALS Association Certified Treatment Center of Excellence. The recognition is a significant feat for the center when it comes to caring for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The distinction recognizes the efforts that Hackensack University Medical Center has put into providing patients with the highest quality of care and researching to fight against the disease.
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that impacts nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, which leads to a loss of muscle control. As the severity of the disease progresses, it impacts people’s ability to eat, move, speak and breathe. There is no current cure for ALS, though, a particular approach for treatment has been shown to improve the quality of life for patients and extend their survival.
The certification from the ALS Association enforces that the ALS Center at Hackensack University Medical Center is at the highest standard of care. Through bringing together a group of specialists that cover many different fields, the center is able to curate an experience that best suits its patients.
“This recognition is the culmination of a seven-year effort to build a state-of-the-art, patient-centered ALS Center,” said Florian P. Thomas, M.D., Ph.D., co-director of the ALS Center and founding chair and Professor of Neurology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine & Hackensack University Medical Center. – Robert D. Connors, M.D., co-director of the ALS Center & assistant professor of Neurology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine adds “We are incredibly proud of our entire team’s compassionate, collaborative, and courageous care for our patients and their families. This designation not only acknowledges our commitment to excellence in clinical care but also solidifies our position as a vital center for ALS research, offering our patients access to cutting-edge clinical trials.”
The number of people in the United States living with ALS is expected to grow in the coming years, largely due to an aging population. This has made it even more important for facilities to put forward the level of effort that Hackensack University Medical Center has.
“Achieving the status of an ALS Association Certified Treatment Center of Excellence™ is a tremendous honor and a direct reflection of our team’s unwavering dedication to our patients,” said Dr. Lisa Tank, President and Chief Hospital Executive at Hackensack University Medical Center. “This designation provides our community with the assurance that they have access to the highest level of care, right here in New Jersey. We are committed to not only providing exceptional, compassionate care but also to contributing to the vital research that will one day lead to a cure for ALS.”
Upon receiving the distinction, the ALS Center at Hackensack University Medical Center has now become the second in the Hackensack Meridian Health network to achieve the feat, joining the Jersey Shore University Medical Center. The distinction shows the commitment that the center has dedicated towards bringing the highest quality of care to all patients being treated.