b'What is Comprehensive Care?The comprehensive care approach to MS involves a number of healthcare professionalswith expertise in the field of MS, including: neurologists, primary care physicians, nurses,social workers, mental health professionals, pharmacists, and rehabilitation specialists. Eachmember of the team becomes familiar with your needs and circumstances to create a realistictreatment program that is aimed at helping you reach your fullest potential for independentfunctioning within the context of the life you have always led. To achieve this, the team workscollaboratively with you, your care partner, family, and even your work environment to advocatefor you in ways that support your needs and wishes.They help to educate you about the diseaseand your treatment options, and help you to optimize the medical therapies you receive to bestmeet your personal needs.Outcomes of Comprehensive Care Experience has shown that a number of signicant improvements can be achieved usingthe comprehensive care approach. Given this level of attention and support, people who use MScenters are generally better able to stick to their medication regimen, learn to manage nuisanceside-eects, and achieve optimal results. They are more likely to take advantage of physicaltherapies and rehabilitation strategies, even though these can make demands on their stamina.Given the opportunity to continue working, many remain more physically active andpsychologically healthier. Regular interaction by the team members with the person with MSand their family members provides opportunities to for these professionals to notice andintervene in a broad range of situations that can potentially damage the patients health, includingreimbursement issues with insurance providers, work situations, physiological challenges, anddicult decisions about everyday function. Where is comprehensive care available for MS?MS specialty treatment facilities and clinics are becoming increasingly available, but manypeople will still need to travel to reach one of these centers. When travel is necessary, mostpeople will choose to be treated by their own primary care physician at home, and makeannual or more frequent trips to a multidisciplinary center for a full evaluation of theirtreatment protocol. The success of this comprehensive care approach is being replicated insmaller facilities as the understanding of the needs of MS patients grows, and new MS centersare opening each year.Your role in comprehensive careBecause of the chronic nature of multiple sclerosis, it is crucial for you and your family tobe involved in the management of the disease and to consider yourselves part of the healthcareteam. Ideally, your attitude and active role in self-monitoring and self-carealong with a wellnesslifestylecan contribute to a productive relationship with the healthcare team.15 msfocusmagazine.org'