Parkinson's Disease Pharmacotherapy Traineeship

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Curriculum

TRAINEESHIP PRECEPTOR AND SITE

Tanya Simuni, MD
Director
Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois

CURRICULUM

As a part of their experience, participants will be immersed in a busy, academic-based movement disorders clinic where they will participate in patient visits and have one-on-one interactions with physicians, patients, and families. Specific activities will include: (1) two full days and two half days in clinic seeing patients; (2) participation in a Parkinson's disease support group; (3) discussion of use of assessment instruments for depression, sleep dysfunction, caregiver strain, PD quality of life, mental status, and non-motor disability in Parkinson's disease; and (4) discussions with the social worker, nurse, physical therapist, speech therapist, and research coordinator. Trainees should be prepared for long days and lots of standing.

Approximately 50-70 outpatients with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders are seen weekly at the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center, ranging in severity from newly diagnosed to those with severe motor fluctuations. Patients vary widely in disability, age of onset, and responsiveness to medications. The neurological problems range from alternative clinical diagnoses, control of medication adverse effects, drug interactions, dementia and depression, adjustment of pharmacotherapy, and the use of adjunctive medications. Several clinical trials of new anti-Parkinsonian medications are ongoing in the Center, and participants in the traineeship can observe clinical ratings and other study methods.

The traineeship will utilize the following basic educational components.

Discussion Topics

• Overview of Parkinson’s disease, differential diagnosis, pharmacologic management, use of rating scales, and management of motor fluctuations
• Nursing issues in the management of Parkinson’s disease
• Assessment of non-motor disability in Parkinson’s disease, including depression, sleep dysfunction, caregiver strain, and quality of life
• The role of social worker, speech therapist, and physical therapist in the management of Parkinson’s disease
• Research studies

Experiential/Clinical

• Participate in patient visits with physician
• Observe neurological examination, use of assessment instruments
• Interview patients and family members/caregivers
• Discuss patients with physician
• Attend Parkinson's disease support group meeting

Selected Readings

• Selected required and recommended reading and online CME materials will be provided to participants prior to the traineeship.

Sample Agenda/Topics