Acorda Launches New Tool for People with Parkinson’s to Improve Communication About OFF Periods
“Do Tell” Your Doctor Tool was adapted from a clinically validated questionnaire developed by Duke University, with input from the Parkinson’s community
Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the launch of the “Do Tell” Your Doctor Tool, a new online questionnaire designed to help people with Parkinson’s (PwPs) and their care partners better identify and articulate their symptoms. OFF periods, or the re-emergence of Parkinson’s symptoms, can be difficult to describe because they differ from person to person, and often from day to day.
Incomplete communication about symptoms is an ongoing barrier to providing optimal care to PwPs. The “Do Tell” Your Doctor Tool, which can be accessed at LiveWellDoTell.org, offers a visual guide and glossary to help PwPs and their care partners recognize and record their troublesome symptoms, with the intent of fostering better dialogue with their healthcare provider.
“We have found a consensus among leading movement disorder physicians, PwPs, their care partners and Parkinson’s patient advocacy groups that PwPs have challenges in articulating the impact of their OFF periods during a doctor’s appointment. This results in missed opportunities for discussion,” said Ron Cohen, M.D., Acorda’s President and CEO. “We expect the “Do Tell” Your Doctor Tool to increase effective communication between PwPs and their healthcare providers, thereby enhancing their ability to optimize therapeutic outcomes. We are proud to bring this to the Parkinson’s community.”
The “Do Tell” Your Doctor Tool, part of Acorda’s “Live Well. Do Tell.℠” program, aims to help initiate effective conversations about OFF periods between PwPs and their healthcare providers. The tool was developed with input from a multi-disciplinary Steering Committee of Parkinson’s community leaders. It also underwent beta testing and received feedback from members of InMotion, a nonprofit wellness center in Cleveland, Ohio, that offers a variety of evidence-based exercise, creative movement, support and education programs free of charge to PwPs and their care partners.
“This tool will be a valuable resource to help improve conversations between people with Parkinson’s, their care partners and healthcare providers,” said Karen Jaffe, a person with Parkinson’s and member of both the “Live Well. Do Tell.” Steering Committee and the InMotion Board. “We were excited to offer our input on this important tool to ensure it is user-friendly and serves the needs of our community.”
