Here’s who you are likely to see while you’re here:

• An ALS neurologist to assess you, prescribe necessary therapies and oversee your care
• An ALS nurse to coordinate your care and help carry out your care plan
• A nutritionist to set nutritional goals and identify strategies to maintain nourishment
• A pulmonologist and respiratory therapist to help with your breathing
• A physical therapist to focus on preserving strength, stretching/range of motion, and safe mobility/transfer strategies
• An occupational therapist to maximize independence and incorporate adaptive strategies
• A social worker to support care management, community resources and mental wellness
• A clinical assessment and research engagement (CARE) coordinator to help obtain clinical scales and connect you with ALS research
• A speech and language pathologist to support swallowing and communication needs
• A rehabilitation engineer to support wheelchair seating and mobility options

Research shows that active, aggressive management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis improves outcomes and maximizes quality of life. This is our approach in the Stanford Morris ALS Clinic.

Our multidisciplinary team assesses the needs of each person living with ALS and their family to develop an individualized care plan that addresses every step of the ALS journey. Once an individual is diagnosed with ALS, our team immediately begins its work implementing a wide array of clinical services designed to support patients and families to maximize care, independence, function, and quality of life:

The generosity of The Stanford Morris Foundation has led to the endowment and naming of the Stanford Morris ALS Clinic. It honors the legacy of Stanford Morris, who lived with ALS.

Standford Morris ALS Clinic Team Member Roles

The Standford Morris ALS  team develops an individualized care plan that addresses every step of the ALS journey. Here are the roles of our team members you may encounter during your visit.

Dietitian

 A dietitian helps people with ALS get the nutrition they need. They check nutrition early and often to help keep weight steady and prevent muscle loss. This is important because people with ALS often need more calories and protein.

A dietitian can also help with common ALS problems, such as:

• Low appetite 
• Fatigue from feeding yourself 
• Trouble swallowing 
• Tube feeding, if needed

Speech-Language Pathologist

The role of the speech-language pathologist is to assess speech and communication skills and implement strategies to enhance communication.

Instruction in the use of compensatory strategies (such as slowing the rate of speech, separating the syllables, and over-enunciating the speech sounds) can be helpful.

These strategies can also be augmented with communication devices such as magic writing slates, alphabet boards, picture boards, eye-scanning boards, electronic devices with voice output, and even high-tech computerized devices.

Our speech-language pathologists will also conduct swallowing evaluations and offer safe swallowing strategies and suggestions.

Social Worker

The role of the social worker is to provide psychosocial support, education, brief counseling, and resource coordination to help patients and families navigate the emotional, practical, and financial challenges of living with ALS.  The social worker assesses coping, mental health, emotional well-being, caregiver needs, and safety concerns; facilitates advance care planning and goals-of-care discussions; connects patients with community resources, benefits, and support services; advocates for patient needs and offers ongoing support through disease progression.

Pulmonologist and Respiratory Therapist

The role of the pulmonologist and respiratory therapist is to assess for therapies to support and enhance breathing, including breathing exercises, cough assist machine, and ventilation support.

Physical Therapist

 The role of the physical therapist is to assist with recommendations for exercise, equipment, mobility, and safety. This may include instructions for stretching or range of motion exercises to help maintain flexibility and reduce cramping.

The physical therapist may also recommend devices and equipment such as an ankle-foot orthosis, a cane, a wheelchair, or a neck brace to help in maintaining mobility and independence.

Instruction also includes proper methods for moving, transferring, and lifting patients. The physical therapist may make recommendations for safety equipment including aids for transfers, lifts, grab bars, and shower chairs.

Their goal is to promote safety and independence while avoiding fatigue or injuries. Your physical therapist will develop an individual plan for you and your family to achieve your goals for independent mobility with your available function and strength.

Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists assist patients with ALS in maximizing their independence, safety, and quality of life, with a focus on the activities that matter most to each individual. 

Occupational therapists not only assess and advise about current levels of physical and cognitive functioning but also anticipate changes that come with disease progression. They make recommendations for equipment, task adaptations, and home modifications before the need becomes urgent. 

Occupational therapists also partner with caregivers, providing training to family members in positioning techniques, transfers, pain management, and equipment use so that families can be confident with assisting their loved ones at home.

The role of the dietitian is to develop an individual program to provide adequate nutrients to maintain weight and prevent weight loss that may occur during the course of ALS.

The dietitian will determine how many calories, grams of protein, and fluids should be consumed each day. In addition, the dietitian can provide input on food consistency, supplementation, and tube feeding formulas.

The role of the speech-language pathologist is to assess speech and communication skills, implement strategies to enhance communication, and assure that persons with ALS can express their feelings, thoughts, and needs.

Instruction in the use of compensatory strategies (such as slowing the rate of speech, separating the syllables, and over-enunciating the speech sounds) can be helpful.

These strategies can also be augmented by communication devices such as magic writing slates, alphabet boards, picture boards, eye scanning boards, electronic devices with voice output, and even high-tech computerized devices.

Our speech-language pathologists will also conduct swallowing evaluations and offer safe swallowing strategies and suggestions.

The role of the social worker is to assess the impact of recent physical, emotional, and financial changes in persons with ALS and the family unit and how the patient and family are coping.

Current and future needs are addressed and suggestions for community resources are provided.

The role of the respiratory therapist is to obtain measurements of respiratory function and instruct the ALS patient and family in the use of therapeutic measures such as breathing exercises and assistive coughing and in the use of equipment such as a breathing tube.

The role of the physical therapist is to assist the patient in the areas of exercise, equipment, and safety. This includes patient and caregiver instruction in stretching and range of motion exercises to help maintain flexibility and reduce cramping.

The physical therapist may also recommend devices and equipment such as an ankle-foot-orthosis, a cane, a wheelchair, or a neck brace to help in maintaining mobility and independence.

Instruction in proper methods for moving, transferring, and lifting patients and recommendations for safety equipment including aids for transfers, lifts, grab bars and shower chairs are also provided. The goal is to promote the highest level of possible function, for as long as possible while avoiding fatigue.

The role of the occupational therapist is to provide persons with ALS options, resources, and information for maintaining independence in activities of daily living.

The occupational therapist assesses the patient’s functional abilities (range of motion, muscle strength, daily activity levels, and mobility) and performance in activity areas such as dressing, feeding, hygiene, and in the work environment.

Adaptive devices such as rocker knives, button hooks, handwriting aids, book holders, zipper pulls, key holders, reachers and grab bars may be recommended to assist weakened muscles, reduce fatigue, promote safety, and enhance life quality.