A nurse-led model increases quality of care in Parkinson disease

Recent molecular and genetic advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of Parkinson disease (PD) opened new possible therapeutic perspectives moving toward a precision medicine approach.¹ Nevertheless, an unmet need in PD is an integrated approach to develop a global health strategy to improve safety and quality care. One approach should promote an active role for patients with PD and caregivers in their interaction with health care professionals.² Such a model requires a redefinition of the patient–neurologist relationship, but also a nurse-focused strategy in which patients, working as partners with health care professionals, derive benefit from multifaceted, continuous management. The natural history of PD, as well as changes induced by pharmacologic treatment, make management of this chronic disease complex, requiring multidisciplinary approaches. For these reasons, professionals must collaborate to make coordinated decisions and share responsibilities.³ Indeed, for patients with chronic diseases, delivery of coordinated, integrated, and patient-centered care positively affects the clinical outcome, patient functioning, and quality of life.⁴ However, effective models of multidisciplinary collaboration in health care require further refinement and study.⁵