Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy Designates Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters as a Certified Duchenne Care Center

HACKENSACK, N.J., Jan. 29, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), a nonprofit organization leading the fight to end Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne), named Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) the 23^rd  Certified Duchenne Care Center. This elite program, created in 2014 as part of PPMD's Certified Duchenne Care Center Program, continues to review and recognize clinics nationwide for their outstanding neuromuscular programs.

Duchenne is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed in childhood, affecting approximately one in 5,000 live male births.

PPMD's Certified Duchenne Care Center Program supports standardized, comprehensive care and services for all people living with Duchenne. Certification means centers maintain the highest standards in clinical and sub-specialty services, rapidly apply new evidence-based knowledge, minimize heterogeneity in clinical research outcomes, and comply with standards in clinical care that were established by the CDC Care Considerations. As part of its ongoing mission to end Duchenne, PPMD continues to insist that all people with Duchenne receive comprehensive care.

CHKD's services for Duchenne patients are led by Dr. Crystal Proud, a board-certified pediatric neuromuscular neurologist. Dr. Proud has worked diligently over the past three years to assemble a multidisciplinary team of providers that now cares for more than 80 patients living with Duchenne in and around Norfolk, Virginia.

Kathi Kinnett, MSN, APRN, PPMD's Senior Vice President of Clinical Care and director of PPMD's Certified Duchenne Care Center (CDCC) Program, is pleased that the CHKD will now be included in the growing network of Duchenne care offered at the nearly two dozen Certified Duchenne Care Centers across the Unites States.

"We are excited to announce Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters as our first CDCC of 2019. This is a well-coordinated team of expert providers. CHKD offers a unique practice system that allows each subspecialist to practice both independently and as a team. The result is a collaborative partnership amongst all providers with the family at the center of everything they do. It has shown to be a successful model, both in the provision of care and patient/family satisfaction."

"We are honored to receive this important acknowledgement of our commitment to patients and families living with Duchenne," says Dr. Proud. "These children deserve the best care we can provide, so we will continue to work with families and colleagues to develop best practices and strengthen our services."

Kinnett says that since launching the program in 2014, PPMD receives weekly inquiries from centers interested in applying for certification. "Families in our community turn to PPMD to help identify the centers in the country providing the best in comprehensive Duchenne care and services. Clinics and clinicians are realizing the value of the Certified Duchenne Care Center Program and therefore strive to be the best facility they can be for Duchenne patients and families. Industry, also, is recognizing the value of including patients in their studies, receiving standardized Duchenne care and, thus, strengthening the outcome measures in their clinical trials. As the importance of a set of standards and guidelines in clinical care are recognized globally, PPMD looks forward to expanding this program internationally in the New Year by partnering with other patient advocacy groups. We also look forward to more certifications in the U.S. in 2019."

To learn more about PPMD's Certified Duchenne Care Center Program, visit PPMD's website. Click here to learn more about the history of PPMD's Certified Duchenne Care Center Program and to access PPMD's first published article on the program.

About Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne is a fatal genetic disorder that slowly robs people of their muscle strength. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) is the largest most comprehensive nonprofit organization in the United States focused on finding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy—our mission is to end Duchenne.

We invest deeply in treatments for this generation of people affected by Duchenne and in research that will benefit future generations. We advocate in Washington, DC, and have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in funding. We demand optimal care, and we strengthen, unite and educate the global Duchenne community.

Everything we do—and everything we have done since our founding in 1994—helps people with Duchenne live longer, stronger lives. We will not rest until every person has a treatment to end Duchenne. Go to www.ParentProjectMD.org for more information or to learn how you can support our efforts and help families affected by Duchenne. Follow PPMD on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

About Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD)

CHKD is the only freestanding children's hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, urgent care centers and satellite offices throughout its service region.

SOURCE Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy

Related Links

http://www.parentprojectmd.org