National VA Parkinson's Disease Consortium

The National VA Parkinson's Disease Consortium:

History & Mission

Our Mission…

To support the provision of optimal care for veterans diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and related movement disorders through professional education, collaboration and advocacy.

The National VA Parkinson’s Disease Consortium was established in 2003 to broaden the impact of the Parkinson’s  Disease Research, Education and Clinical Centers (PADRECCs) and encourage the delivery of modern Parkinson’s disease management across the collective VA Healthcare System.  While the PADRECCs serve as designated Centers of Excellence, the Consortium aims to revolutionize clinical care at unique VA Medical Centers via professional education, collaboration, and peer support.   All VA clinicians, including movement disorder specialists, neurologists, gerontologists, general internists, practitioners, and other allied health professionals, are invited and encouraged to join in this paramount campaign.  Membership grants access to valuable resources and educational materials, such as the bimonthly electronic update and research review “The Transmitter”.

The Consortium was launched in April 2003 during a national conference in Miami, Florida titled “Novel Concepts and Management Strategies in Parkinson's Disease”.  Approximately 75 VA clinicians selected from across the VA Healthcare System were invited to attend the conference as charter members of the VA PD Consortium.  The concept of a “Consortium Center Network” was created and presented at the second national conference held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in September 2006.  Since that time, the Consortium has hosted two additional bi-annual conferences in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in September 2008 and San Francisco, California in September 2010.  These national gatherings have solidified the purpose and impact of the Network through the provision of education, training, and professional networking.

The 51 established Consortium Centers ensure accessibility and continuity of specialized care for veterans afflicted by parkinsonism, regardless of locality.  These Centers offer movement disorder clinics staffed by a movement disorder specialist or neurology clinician and are supported by the PADRECCs through administrative assistance, professional collaboration, and educational offerings.  Together, the PADRECCs and Consortium Centers create a hub and spoke model of care that is thus far unprecedented in the VA system.  Veterans who cannot access direct care at a PADRECC facility can be evaluated and treated at the closest Consortium Center in their region.  Click here to locate a Consortium Center.

The National VA Parkinson’s Disease Consortium has evolved as a distinguished society of VA providers who are deeply committed to veterans living with Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.  Our mission has been intensified through the establishment of the Consortium Center Network and the migration of state-of-the-art movement disorders care across the VA Healthcare System.  The PADRECCs and Consortium proudly promote the VA as a leader in the international Parkinson community.

Consortium Center Referral List /  Membership & Consortium Center Designation / Movement Disorder Series / Resource Request Form / Grant Opportunities /  Education & Clinical Resources / The Monthly Transmitter / 2008 Conference Presentations / 2010 Conference Presentations / Consortium Newsletters /  Consortium Brochures 

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