The ALS Association Announces The ALS Clinic at the University of California, San Francisco as a Certified ALSA Center

    CALABASAS, Calif., Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The ALS Association has
 announced the approval of the ALS Clinic at the University of California,
 San Francisco as a certified ALSA Center in recognition of its outstanding
 clinical program for people with ALS and their family members.  The ALS Clinic
 at UCSF is now one of 16 prestigious centers of excellence for ALS throughout
 the country recognized by The ALS Association.  Led by medical director,
 Richard K. Olney, M.D., the ALS clinic service at UCSF began in 1993 and was
 expanded in 2000.
     "The ALS Association is delighted to add the ALS Clinic at The University
 of California, San Francisco to its approved list of ALSA certified centers,"
 stated Mary Lyon, RN, MN, Vice President, Patient Services, for
 The ALS Association.  Added Lyon, "UCSF joins The Forbes Norris certified ALSA
 Center at California Pacific Medical Center as only the second such ALS clinic
 in California to receive national certification in meeting the rigorous
 clinical standards set by The ALS Association to serve the needs of those
 affected by ALS.  The Forbes Norris ALSA Center is recognized internationally
 as a preeminent center for ALS patient care.  These two centers are the only
 certified ALSA centers in the state of California that meet the
 'gold standard' of ALS clinical management care."
     To become certified as an ALSA Center, an ALS clinic must achieve national
 prominence, meet rigorous clinical care standards and pass a comprehensive
 site inspection.  Using the latest research findings in clinical practice,
 offering clinical drug trials and conducting clinical management research
 involvement, these distinguished regional ALSA Centers are recognized by
 The ALS Association as the best in the field with regard to knowledge about
 and experience in ALS.
     "The ALS Association's ALSA Center Program sets the national standard for
 clinical care for people living with ALS and their family members.  The
 nationwide network of 16 certified ALSA Centers provide state-of-the-art,
 multidisciplinary ALS care and services in a supportive, family-oriented
 atmosphere with emphasis on hope and quality of life while living with the
 disease," added Lyon.
     Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease
 that occurs when motor nerve cells cease to function and die.  While in most
 cases a person's mind remains sharp and alert, muscle control becomes
 completely lost.
     The ALS Association is the only national not-for-profit voluntary health
 organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS through research,
 patient support, information dissemination and public awareness.  For more
 information about ALS and a complete list of ALSA Centers in the
 United States, please visit www.alsa.org.
 
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SOURCE  The ALS Association