Ochsner Health Named a Center of Excellence by The Huntington’s Disease Society of America for the Sixth Consecutive Year

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Huntington’s Disease Society of America awarded Ochsner Health and 54 other Huntington’s disease care facilities across the United States the designation of Centers of Excellence for 2022. Ochsner Health is the first and only health system in Louisiana to hold this distinction since its first award in 2016.

HDSA defines Centers of Excellence as multi-disciplinary care teams with expertise in Huntington’s disease sharing an exemplary commitment to provide comprehensive care for this complex, hereditary, neurodegenerative disease. Patients benefit from Ochsner’s elite team approach to care and research with expert neurologists, psychiatrists, therapists, counselors, and other professionals working together to provide the best care program.

Huntington’s disease is a fatal genetic disorder affecting more than 30,000 Americans of all ages. The disease causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain resulting in abnormal and writhing movements of the body with loss of balance and poor dexterity. The disease also causes difficulty with mood, judgment, memory, cognition, and deterioration of a person’s physical and mental abilities.

"Currently, there isn't a cure for Huntington's disease, which is why it's so important that we offer a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, collaborative and personalized approach to the care at Ochsner," said David Houghton, MD, Vice Chair and Chief of Movement and Memory Disorders, Ochsner Health. "Care for our patients includes clinical services, therapy visits, research studies, support groups, and hope across the Gulf South. We are honored to be named an HDSA Center of Excellence, and it is a testament to the dedication of our care team at Ochsner."

The Ochsner Neuroscience Institute offers award-winning neuroscience care with more than 40 highly trained neuroscience physicians specializing in a wide range of treatments for adult and pediatric neurological conditions. Care includes headache care, neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, back and spine care, neuroradiology, neurosciences, stroke care, an ALS center, epilepsy, concussion, traumatic brain injury, memory disorders, multiple sclerosis, and neuropsychology. Ochsner’s neurology and neurosurgery program was ranked 31 in the United States by U.S. News & World Report 2021-2022 Best Hospitals. Ochsner is the only hospital ranked in Louisiana.

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About Ochsner Health

Ochsner Health is an integrated healthcare system with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate. Celebrating 80 years in 2022, it leads nationally in cancer care, cardiology, neurosciences, liver and heart transplants and pediatrics, among other areas. Ochsner is consistently named both the top hospital and top children’s hospital in Louisiana by U.S. News & World Report. The not-for-profit organization is inspiring healthier lives and stronger communities. Its focus is on preventing diseases and providing patient-centered care that is accessible, affordable, convenient and effective. Ochsner Health pioneers new treatments, deploys emerging technologies and performs groundbreaking research, including over 700 clinical studies. It has more than 34,000 employees and over 4,500 employed and affiliated physicians in over 90 medical specialties and subspecialties. It operates 40 hospitals and more than 300 health and urgent care centers across Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf South; and its cutting-edge Connected Health digital medicine program is caring for patients beyond its walls. In 2021, Ochsner Health treated more than 1 million people from every state and 75 countries. As Louisiana’s top healthcare educator, Ochsner Health and its partners educate thousands of healthcare professionals annually. To learn more, visit https://www.ochsner.org/.