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Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Centers (PADRECCs)
and the National VA Parkinson’s Disease Consortium
Brief Summary
Six regional Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Centers (PADRECCs) throughout the United States provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art care to veterans with Parkinson’s disease. Through these Centers, veterans have access to the full spectrum of standard-of-care treatments, including modern medications, rehabilitation therapies, botulinum toxin injections, and deep brain stimulation (DBS). The six PADRECCs are located in Houston, Philadelphia, Portland and Seattle jointly, Richmond, San Francisco, and West Los Angeles.
In addition to providing top-notch clinical care, the PADRECCs focus on conducting clinical and basic science research, from basic investigations into mechanisms of neurodegeneration, to epidemiology of Parkinson’s disease, to study of non-motor features of disease, and to creation of novel treatments.
The PADRECCs are now established as experienced, efficient and cost-effective centers for the provision of DBS for those patients nationwide deemed to be candidates for this treatment. The Centers have substantial expertise in patient evaluation, surgical implantation and post-operative management.
The PADRECCs also administer national outreach and education programs. The Centers have established vehicles for communication of Parkinson’s disease-related healthcare information with VA clinicians and veteran patients, including newsletters, websites, and educational seminars.
National VA Parkinson's Disease Consortium
The PADRECCs created and continue to oversee the development of the National VA Parkinson’s Disease Consortium, an initiative designed to complement the PADRECCs in their mission to serve nearly 80,000 veterans diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease nationwide. This initiative serves as a mechanism to network and train nationally dispersed VA clinicians who possess expertise or interest in Parkinson’s disease and related fields, including movement disorder specialists, neurologists, geriatricians, primary care providers, and multidisciplinary clinicians. Together, exemplary care is provided either on-site at one of the six PADRECCs or remotely through telemedicine consultations with coordinated care at satellite clinics and Consortium centers.
Advocacy
Originally, the PADRECCs were created through an informal agreement with former Congressman Lane Evans (D-IL) and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in 2001. In 2006, PAN received word that the VA was contemplating the closure of all six PADRECCs. Rep. Evans, the then Co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease, and Senate VA Committee Ranking Member Daniel Akaka sponsored a bill to formally authorize the PADRECCs. Throughout the 109th Congress, PAN advocates worked tirelessly to garner support for legislation to protect and support the PADRECCs. At the end of the legislative calendar, H.R. 6342 was passed by both the House and Senate, and on December 21, 2006 the bill was signed into law by President Bush.
This legislative victory was thanks to overwhelming Congressional support for the PADRECCs, the dedicated work of PAN advocates, and the efforts of PAN’s informal coalition with the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) and the American Academy of Neurology (AAN.)
Links
Coalition Thank You Letter to House
Coalition Thank You Letter to Senate
PAN endorsement Letter of PADRECCs bill
PADRECC homepage
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