Redaccion
The general director of Assistance Programs participated today in the opening of a conference where the different healthcare and social aspects related to individuals diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) were addressed
The SCS has the Neurodegenerative Diseases Strategy of the Canary Islands, a scientific and technical document that establishes the framework of actions to be developed in the healthcare network of the SCS regarding this type of pathologies
The general director of Assistance Programs of the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS), Antonia María Pérez, the manager of Primary Care of the Gran Canaria Health Area, Carlos Jorge, the Nursing Director of the Management, Juan José Suárez, and the area coordinator of the Management, Oliver Rodríguez, inaugurated this morning the multidisciplinary Conference on ALS patient care, which brought together more than a hundred professionals in person in the main auditorium of said Management.
The main objective of this initiative, which could also be followed remotely, is to, through presentations by different healthcare professionals, expose clinical aspects and experiences aimed at reducing complications throughout the course of the disease, improving prevention and early detection in the stages of ALS, as well as promoting a holistic and multidisciplinary approach in the care of individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
The organized program of presentations also served to update knowledge on the latest evidence regarding new symptoms and keys in managing the worsening of the most known signs and symptoms, detecting the need for technical aids or assistance devices in the disease process, recognizing clinical signs and parameters indicating malnutrition, nutritional risk, or hypoventilation, and sensitizing professionals to the importance of end-of-life care and aid provision. During the working day, the healthcare pathway provided to individuals with ALS from different healthcare levels and the coordination between them was also highlighted.
Neurodegenerative diseases strategy
In this regard, the general director recalled that the Canary Islands Health Service recently published the Neurodegenerative Diseases Strategy of the Canary Islands 2025-2028, a scientific and technical document developed by a multidisciplinary group of professionals and patient associations that establishes the framework of actions to be carried out in the healthcare network of the SCS regarding this type of pathologies.
Antonia María Pérez explained that this working tool is aligned with the humanizing vision that is being promoted in healthcare in the Canary Islands and has a financial budget of around three million euros that will be allocated to prevention and early detection, cognitive rehabilitation equipment, and training and research.
According to her, «the Neurodegenerative Diseases Strategy of the Canary Islands aims to provide comprehensive care focused on individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, their families and caregivers, as well as in their environment and community.»
To achieve this, the goal is to promote early detection and ensure access to diagnostic, therapeutic, and social protection resources efficiently and from an equitable and quality perspective with the transdisciplinary coordination of all professionals involved.
Conference development
During this Friday’s conference, in formats of specific presentations on basic concepts related to ALS, the various professionals addressed topics such as the initial assessment and evaluation by the Primary Care team, the role of Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Pulmonology, and Speech Therapy in the management of these patients, early detection of the need for assistance devices and their management, the role of Nursing as case managers in Primary Care and Hospital Care, symptom control and end-of-life care, emotional management, care in the advanced stage of ALS and resources, dependency, and degree of capacity.
