The Hutchman Methodology
An innovation within the care of the neurodegenerative disorders is necessary to improve the quality of life of the patients and families of these vulnerable populations. This need is especially prominent given the aging population of the United States, which will undoubtedly produce increasing numbers of cases of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s disease, just to name a few.
Our vision is to do just that: Provide excellent services for these patients at the premier private neuroscience facility in the Los Angeles basin/Southern California region.
Further, our philosophy is distinct from existing facilities. A more select, smaller population of patients are given significant time with the physician and staff to inspire commitment to fight their respective disorders. This is achieved by stressing education, compliance with treatment advice, regular physical, mental, & spiritual activity, and active involvement/advocacy for “the cause” through clinical trial involvement.
Through the investment of significant time with each patient and caregivers/family, a much more meaningful personal relationship is struck. Further, we hope this inspires them with confidence in our advocacy for their specialty care, by managing the entire condition & person. In other words, we must pro-actively surveil not only the well-known symptoms of the disease, but also those issues less well-known to non subspecialists, that can be just as, if not more disabling. For instance, Parkinson’s disease is not merely a constellation of motor features (bradykinesia, rigidity, and rest tremor), but a multi-faceted disorder featuring many non-motor manifestations (cognition deficiencies, presence of psychosis, mood instability, night-time sleep disorders, excessive daytime sleepiness/fatigue/apathy, and dysautonomia). This approach inspires compliance with medical advice, investment in self-education, and enthusiasm for clinical trial involvement to take advantage of novel medical treatment opportunities and advocacy contribution.
Our enterprise has had an auspicious beginning, with each of two key elements growing steadily: First, the clinical practice, the Hazel Hutchman Memorial Neuroscience Center, specifically dedicated to the neurodegenerative and movements disorders sphere and secondly, Neurosearch, Inc., the clinical research company (currently administering various stages of eight phase II/III clinical trials). As the current facilities grow, staff will be strategically added to provide comprehensive services for patients and the community/region visa these two entities. Outreach & advocacy efforts through educational seminars/vendor fairs, local support group mentoring (Dr. Hutchman is already actively involved in this regard in Ventura & LA counties), physical/occupational/speech/ swallowing/massage therapy, neurologic education & care physician extenders, neuro- & gero-psychiatric care, pre- & post-DBS surgical counseling and medical management, and of course, further dedicated clinical research staff to handle our burgeoning trial activity.