Borough wide
An ALS first
Brooklyn is naturally the borough of choice for pioneering NYU Lutheran Medical Center to open its first facility for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS — and offer them an array of therapies under one roof.
Traditional care for the degenerative disease that weakens muscles and impairs physical function involves a complex labyrinth of providers and treatments that patients may have difficulty finding in one convenient location, but the new NYU Lutheran ALS Center at the NYU Lutheran Medical Arts Pavilion in Bay Ridge eliminates the hassle. Patients can now access occupational, physical, respiratory, and speech therapists — in addition to a team of board-certified neurologists, neuropsychologists, social workers, and orthotic consultants — without leaving the building.
It’s a dream come true for Dr. Anthony Geraci. The neurologist has been treating ALS patients for 20 years and long envisioned centralizing their care options.
“I wanted to build a place where I can directly help a patient through each stage of their treatment,” he said. “Our role as doctors is to not only diagnose and treat patients, but also to hold their hands and be there for them through it all — that is very much a part of the healing process.”
Chief of neurology and rehabilitation Dr. Salman Azhar applauded Lutheran’s latest critical resource.
“If we’re able to make life more comfortable for just one ALS patient, we’ve achieved our goal,” he said.
Standing O is all about making life easier, and sends an ovation to Lutheran for coming to the rescue, once again.
NYU Lutheran ALS Center [8714 Fifth Ave. between 86th and 87th streets in Bay Ridge, (718) 630–8600; www.luthe
