AHN, Parkinson Foundation Expand Cahouet Center for Comprehensive Parkinson’s Care to Forbes Hospital

MONROEVILLE, Pa. – Since opening the Cahouet Center for Comprehensive Parkinson’s Care in 2016 at Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN) professional building in Bellevue, hundreds of patients with Parkinson’s disease have accessed the Center’s many clinical and support services. Now, patients living in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh will also have close-to-home access to the Cahouet Center with the expansion of the program to AHN’s Forbes Hospital campus in Monroeville. 

The Cahouet Center for Comprehensive Parkinson’s Care uniquely combines the world-class medical expertise of AHN with the extensive resources of the Parkinson Foundation Western Pennsylvania. Its multi-disciplinary program addresses the changing needs of Parkinson’s patients over time, providing patients with a single point of contact to address questions and concerns following diagnosis, along with individualized care plans and personalized follow-up care.

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease, affecting approximately one million people in the United States and more than four million worldwide. The disease is a progressive disorder that impacts the body’s ability to move.

AHN neurologist and Parkinson’s specialist Susan Baser, MD, is now seeing patients at the Cahouet Center at the Forbes Hospital campus.

“The expansion of the Cahouet Center to Forbes Hospital is part of our vision for continued growth of the Center – providing more people with Parkinson’s disease the opportunity to receive comprehensive care such that not only their physical symptoms are treated, but their quality of life is significantly improved while the burden on their caregivers is greatly eased,” said Timothy Leichliter, MD, Medical Director of the Cahouet Center.

The Center is named for the late Frank Cahouet who was once chairman and chief executive of Mellon Financial Corp. Following his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 2015, finding the ancillary services to meet all of his needs proved to be a challenge. With this, he was inspired to help create a comprehensive, well-coordinated care program that would provide the best possible outcome for Parkinson’s patients like him.

The 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. At the Bellevue location, the Center also hosts support groups, exercise classes and educational programs conducted by the Parkinson Foundation.

To help execute patients’ care plans over time, the Parkinson Foundation and Center staff identifies conveniently located health professionals and resources in the patient’s community. They follow up with patients regularly to monitor their progress and assist with any challenges they might encounter.

“The Cahouet Center is characteristic of Allegheny Health Network’s ongoing efforts to provide more convenient, easily accessible, value-based care to patients in our region,” said Donald Whiting, MD, Chair, AHN Neuroscience Institute. “We are so proud to carry on Mr. Cahouet’s vision, delivering the leading-edge care provided at the Cahouet Center to more people in more places.”  

The AHN Neuroscience Institute’s movement disorders program is regarded as one of the most advanced in the country. The Institute provides leading expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s, offering innovative therapies that can safely reduce or eliminate symptoms of the disease. AHN neurosurgeons have successfully treated hundreds of patients with deep brain stimulation (DBS) – a life-changing surgical procedure that involves implanting electrodes into the brain to regulate abnormal nerve impulses associated with Parkinson’s.

Patients can schedule an appointment by calling 412-359-8850.

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