The Lois Insolia ALS Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago was established in 1986 with funds from the James V. Insolia Family Foundation and the Les Turner ALS Foundation. The Center is affiliated with Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and utilizes a multidisciplinary team approach where trained specialists provide diagnostic, rehabilitative and supportive services focusing on assessment, care planning and education.

Some of the specialized services offered to patients include communication devices from the Foundation's communication bank, mobility assistance, a patient resource guide, ventilation videos/DVDs for reference, home visits by an ALS nurse consultant and social worker, transportation to and from the clinic visit if needed and free parking for patients during their appointment.

In addition to providing care to the ALS community through the Center, staff at the Lois Insolia Center contributes to the total care of ALS patients through participation and sharing their learnings at ALS conferences around the country and around the world. They are recognized by their peers for their knowledge and expertise.

"Your enthusiasm and support for ALS issues and care were evident and were a valued contribution to the success of this year's event."
- Sharon Matland, RN, MBA, Vice President, Patient Services, ALSA
Regarding Lois Insolia ALS Center's Clinical Nurse Coordinator
Jennifer Armstrong's, RN, BSN, presenatation at ALSA's 2007 Clinical Management Conference

"I learned about real strategies, devices and medications to recommend right away at the next clinic visit."
- 2007 ALSA Clinical Management Conference attendee, regarding Armstrong's presentation

The Lois Insolia ALS Center is dedicated to the total care of people with ALS. During a visit, patients meet with several members of the "team" and each provides input and suggestions regarding health care needs. The team includes:

Neurologists
Perform careful neurological examinations, monitor the course of the disease and provide symptomatic medical therapy and comprehensive care for the patient and family. They coordinate the team's efforts in meeting a patient's needs.

Clinical Nurse Coordinators
Evaluate individual health care needs, plan and implement medical treatment, contact appropriate community resources, maks referrals, provide education and serve as the overall coordinators for clinic services.

Clinical Trials Research Coordinator
Disseminates information about current ALS drug studies and provides information to interested patients, screens prospective participants for ALS drug studies at the Lois Insolia ALS Center and organizes medical records pertaining to the study, conducts study sessions with ALS physicians and attends scientific meetings.

Dietitian
Provides nutrition support for patients with specific dietary needs. Dietitians assess nutritional needs, coordinate proper diet therapy and educate patients and their families on proper nutrition for improved quality of life.

Genetic Counselor
Works primarily with patients with the familial (inherited) form of ALS, which accounts for 5-10% of all ALS cases. Counselors act as a liaison between patient, laboratory and physicians and can discuss inheritance patterns and risk factors.

Home Care and Community Services Team
The Team is comprised of three registered nurses and one social worker who perform various functions for the Foundation. The team offers services in the comfort and privacy of a patient's home at no cost, and provide ongoing information, assessment, support and coordination of care to any ALS patient in the Chicago area. To read more, please click here.

Les Turner ALS Foundation Director of Patient Services
Acts as primary contact for ALS patients and/or family members communicating with the Les Turner ALS Foundation and serves as a liaison between the Lois Insolia ALS Center and the Foundation. The Director also disseminates ALS information, provides telephone support and referral, coordinates support group meetings and administers the loan banks of durable medical and augmentative communication equipment.

Occupational Therapist
Evaluates and enhances an individual's functional abilities. They can recommend special adaptive equipment, provide exercise programs and suggest ways to maintain and upgrade activities of daily living such as feeding, dressing and hygiene.

Pulmonologist
Possesses specialized knowledge and skill in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary (lung) conditions and diseases. They assess a patient's respiratory status and help maximize their respiratory function with a variety of interventions.

Speech Pathologist
Specially trained in evaluating speech and swallowing disorders, this specialist helps the patient maintain speech and swallowing function as well as adapt to alternative communication systems if speech is no longer understandable.

To make an appointment at the Lois Insolia ALS Center, please call
(312) 695-7950. Patients are seen by appointment only. The clinical nurse coordinator will make your appointment and discuss the schedule of your visit.