• J Pouget.
• Centre de Référence des Maladies Neuromusculaires et de la SLA, Hôpital de La Timone, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13005 Marseille, France. jeanyves.pouget@ap-hm.fr
• Rev Neurol France. 2013 Feb 1;169 Suppl 1:S39-44.

AbstractThe multidisciplinary care of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients in clinics with expertise in the disease was created in the 1980s and 1990 s specifically to manage the severe functional impairment caused by the disorder. This specialized care for both diagnosis and management led to the creation of the ALS centers. To facilitate the continuity of care through close liaisons between primary-care physicians and community-based services, a specialized network was also developed. French ALS centers are now 10 years old, and their efficient national coordination has provided an improved and homogeneous care delivery in our country, while their recommendations for care have been published both nationally and internationally. Several studies have indicated positive effects on ALS patients'survival after attending ALS centers and receiving such specialized palliative treatments as assisted ventilation.Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

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