Multiple Sclerosis Clinic

The MS Clinic provides exemplary care to patients in Southern Alberta.

Care is provided by a multi-disciplinary team. Members of this team include:

Your MS neurologist: She/he is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of MS. Your doctor performs neurological exams to see how your illness is affecting you. She/he may also prescribe medications to relieve your symptoms and or control your illness. Your MS neurologist is the only professional who may prescribe any of the disease modifying medications. Your family doctor can prescribe symptom management medications.

The nurse coordinator is responsible for responding to patient’s ongoing needs between physician consultations. She/he determines when physician input is required.

Patients are oriented to the clinic by the clinic nurse coordinator. This occurs at the time of their initial medical assessment or shortly following.

The clinic is in operation Monday to Friday from 08:00-16:00 hours. A neurologist is on call twenty-four hours per day to manage any emergencies that may arise with clinic patients outside of regular working hours.

The goal of the clinic is to minimize dysfunction due to MS and maximize the function of the patient.

Patients are referred to other Foothills Hospital client programs/services by referral when indicated, as determined by the referring physician and nurse coordinator. The program currently includes the MS Clinic area as well as the OPTIMUS program. OPTIMUS (Outpatient Treatment In Multiple Sclerosis) is a coordinated rehabilitation program for outpatients. Upon referral and entry into the OPTIMUS program, client-centered goals are established. A summary report is forwarded to the referring physician at the conclusion of that program.

Remember, the clinic is one of your most important resources for providing you with useful and practical answers to your questions about MS. Be open and honest in your communications with the staff. Stay focused on any immediate problems or concerns so the staff can help you more effectively. Communication is a two-way street; so if the doctor or nurse tells you something that you don’t understand, ask them to explain.

© Copyright the MS Society, Calgary Chapter.  All rights reserved.