UAMS, ALS Association open Fayetteville clinic

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and the ALS Association recently opened the first Northwest Arkansas clinic dedicated to treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, at UAMS’ Northwest Regional Campus in Fayetteville.

A three-year, $424,542 Hoffman Clinic Development Award from the ALS Association supported the opening of the 3,397-square-foot clinic at 1125 N. College Ave.

The UAMS Health Northwest Arkansas ALS Clinic is led by Dr. Rohit Dhall, a nationally recognized neurologist and neurodegenerative disorders specialist. Dhall is a professor and chair of the UAMS Department of Neurology.

“ALS affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscles, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis and eventually respiratory failure,” according to a news release. “While there is no cure for ALS, coordinated care can help manage symptoms, maintain function and improve quality of life.”

A team of up to eight full-time specialists will treat patients at the new clinic, which shares space with UAMS’ existing Internal Medicine Clinic. Services include neurology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, respiratory therapy, nutritional counseling, social work and clinical research coordination.

“ALS is a life-altering diagnosis that requires comprehensive, coordinated and timely care, and UAMS is committed to delivering this for our state,” Dhall said. “Our goal is to make that care more accessible to patients and families in Northwest Arkansas by providing high-quality, multidisciplinary support close to home.”

This is the second ALS clinic operated by UAMS, with the original location in Little Rock.

“We work with the best ALS physicians and clinics across the United States to make sure people living with ALS have access to the best specialized care no matter their zip code,” said Cal Brooks, regional vice president of the ALS Association. “ALS multidisciplinary clinics offer significant benefits for our friends living with ALS, including improved quality of life, extended survival and proactive symptom management. We are thrilled to partner with UAMS in the launch of this satellite ALS clinic that provides increased access to specialized ALS care for everyone.”