Allegheny Health Network’s Allegheny General Hospital
AHN establishes Cahouet Center for
Comprehensive Parkinson’s Care
Allegheny Health Network
(AHN) and the Parkinson
Foundation Western
Pennsylvania have established
a center to help patients with
Parkinson’s disease and their
families more seamlessly access
and coordinate the clinical and
support services they require.
personalized follow-up care
coordinated by the Parkinson
Foundation.
The Cahouet Center for
Comprehensive Parkinson’s
Care will uniquely combine
AHN’s world-class medical
expertise with the extensive
resources of the Parkinson
Foundation under one roof,
creating a multi-disciplinary program that addresses the changing
needs of Parkinson’s patients over time.
“A comprehensive approach to care goes beyond treating just
the physical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease,” said Timothy
Leichliter, MD, AHN neurologist, Parkinson’s specialist, and Medical
Director of the Cahouet Center. “The creation of this center is a
natural outgrowth of our longstanding collaborative relationship
with the Parkinson Foundation Western Pennsylvania and our
efforts to work ‘outside the box’ to improve our patient’s quality
of life.”
The Center is named for Frank Cahouet, retired chairman and chief
executive of Mellon Financial Corp. Mr. Cahouet was diagnosed with
Parkinson’s disease last year and is cared for by a team of physicians
at Allegheny General Hospital. Finding the ancillary services to meet
all of his needs when diagnosed proved to be challenging, he said.
“I wanted a comprehensive, well-coordinated care plan that would
provide the best possible outcome for me over the long term,” Frank
said. “That is the vision we have for this Center, and I’m honored to
help bring it to life for those in our community who are living with
Parkinson’s.”
The Cahouet Center will provide patients with a single point
of contact to address any questions or concerns that may arise
following diagnosis, along with individualized care plans and
A team of experienced
professionals, including a
movement disorders specialist,
speech, occupational and
physical therapists, psychologist,
social worker, dietitian, and
exercise specialists, will be
available to patients at the
Center and will collaborate to
create a comprehensive care
plan for each patient and family.
Foundation and Center staff will
identify conveniently located
health professionals and resources in the patient’s community to
help execute the care plan and follow up with patients regularly
to monitor their progress and assist with any challenges they may
encounter.
“No two people who have Parkinson’s are alike, so it really does
require an individualized care plan for patients to have the best
chance of doing well,” said David Von Hofen, Cahouet Center
Director and Parkinson Foundation Western Pennsylvania Program
Director.
Based at AHN’s professional building at 575 Lincoln Avenue in
Bellevue, the new Cahouet Center provides on-site access to AHN’s
neurologists, neurosurgeons, and other clinicians with special
expertise in treating Parkinson’s, as well as clinical research trials of
new therapies being explored for the disease. The Center also will
host support groups, exercise classes, and educational programs
conducted by the Parkinson Foundation.
The services of the Cahouet Center are open to all patients and
families, regardless of their healthcare coverage or insurance
providers. Information on the Center and its programs can be
obtained by calling 844.5STOPPD (844.578.6773).
Allegheny General Hospital • 320 East North Avenue • Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Contact us at AHN.org or call 412.DOCTORS (412.362.8677)