Today Senator Jay Rockefeller announced an unprecedented and powerful partnership to help combat and treat Alzheimer's disease in West Virginia. The Alzheimer's Outreach and Registry Program (AORP) at the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute (BRNI) at West Virginia University, brings together some of West Virginia's most important leaders in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. In addition to BRNI, the partners include the West Virginia Medical Foundation; the Alzheimer's Association, West Virginia Chapter; and the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services. The launch of AORP is made possible through the sponsorship of the West Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association (WVCTA), led by Suddenlink, Comcast and Time Warner Cable. The statewide program has been in development for nearly two years thanks to funding by the state of West Virginia and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
For the more than 44,000 West Virginians (age 65 and over) who have Alzheimer's disease and the approximately 85,000 caregivers who care for them every day -- sometimes for more than a decade -- diagnosis, treatment and care during the progression of the disease is uncertain, confusing and catastrophically expensive. To meet these needs, BRNI has designed a unique program to intensify education and data collection aimed at physicians and other healthcare providers across West Virginia. The goal is to help physicians improve diagnosis and to insure their access to the latest in treatment of the disease. The program will also make certain that physicians and providers know how to connect families and caregivers to vital support networks in communities across the state.
"To help those battling memory disorders, we need to arm our entire network of health care providers and caregivers with the tools they need to diagnose, treat and care for them," said Senator Jay Rockefeller, founder of the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute at West Virginia University. "Through strong support of key groups in West Virginia, we will now be able to offer them education and information essential to carrying out this crucial mission. And I'd like to thank the West Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association and everyone involved for making it possible."
AORP will host live programs for physicians and other providers across the state beginning in October consisting of:
- A continuing medical education program to help keep physicians informed and proactive in the latest diagnostic techniques and treatment;
- A continuing medical education program to help physicians and other healthcare providers connect caregivers to local resources, education and support and ensure a better link between treatment and care; and
- The first ever West Virginia Alzheimer's Disease Registry to collect data on the disease across the state.
These live continuing medical education programs, led by the West Virginia Medical Foundation and presented in cities around the state by WVCTA, will intensify the education effort targeting physicians.
"We are proud to bring the Alzheimer's Outreach and Registry Program at the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute to physicians and other healthcare providers across West Virginia as a component of our long-standing commitment to the people of this state," said Jerry Kent, Chairman and CEO of Suddenlink Communications on behalf of the West Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association. "We applaud Senator Rockefeller and others for their leadership to improve Alzheimer's research, education, and outreach."
West Virginia is only the third state in the country to create an Alzheimer's Disease Registry. The registry will allow physicians to input data on individuals and the disease that in turn will help better allocate state resources and support research.
"Today, there is no reliable early diagnosis for Alzheimer's disease, and there is no cure or consistently reliable treatment," said William Neal, M.D., pediatric cardiologist and board member of the West Virginia Medical Foundation. "This puts a special burden on physicians to stay up on the latest advancement in care, and to understand community resources available that can help caregivers."