Faculty Bibliography

Objective: To increase the scale of a medical and community partnership model for the delivery of comprehensive Parkinson's Wellness programming. Background: In 2007, the Fresco Institute for Parkinson's and Movement Disorders at NYU Langone Medical Center launched a novel initiative with Jewish Community Center Manhattan to develop a comprehensive wellness program model designed specifically for the needs of individuals, care partners and families living with Parkinson's disease (PD). The program has been in high demand since its inception and has proven popular with patients, families and providers. Methods: An interdisciplinary team of medical and community professionals was formed to expand the scale of the program nationally. Top PD specialized clinics and high capacity Jewish Community Centers from around the USA 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 in New York. 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 New York program was adapted first in Boston, MA, and in Rockville, MD, followed by Tampa, FL, and Chicago, IL, in partnership with an expert PD clinic and Jewish Community Center in each location. 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. Discussion: The program model offers multiple domains of potential benefit in the areas of physical and psychosocial health for patients, care partners and families. 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. Potential 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