UNC Health Pardee Expanding Neurological Services with Enhanced Care for ALS Patients
UNC Health Pardee is expanding its neurological services with the opening of a dedicated Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Clinic, the first multidisciplinary clinic of its kind in the region, on Wednesday, September 3. While Pardee has long cared for patients with ALS – a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord – this new clinic represents a more specialized and coordinated approach by bringing focused expertise and a multidisciplinary team to support the unique needs of individuals living with the disease.
Dr. Hannah Machemehl, a neuromuscular neurologist with specialized training and experience in the care and management of ALS, will lead the clinic, and is supported by Dr. Ben Rardin, who is fellowship-trained in neuromuscular medicine. Dr. Machemehl’s leadership brings an expert, compassionate approach to this offering, designed to support families navigating the progression of ALS.
“I consider it a privilege to care for patients and their families with ALS,” said Dr. Machemehl. “I look forward to expanding cutting-edge and complete ALS care in our region, alongside our dedicated and passionate team.”
Made possible through a grant from the ALS Association’s Hoffman ALS Clinic Development Awards program, the clinic integrates neuromuscular neurology, respiratory therapy, speech-language pathology, nutrition, physical and occupational therapy, and social work into a single coordinated setting once a month. It’s estimated that over 130 patients with ALS in western North Carolina currently must travel more than 90 minutes for care. This comprehensive approach ensures patients receive holistic support at every stage of their condition, without the burden of traveling long distances for care.
The ALS Clinic is located at Pardee Neurology Associates, 2775 Hendersonville Rd., Suite 250, in Arden. For more information, call 828-694-4552, or head to the website to learn more about the clinic, its physicians, and team.
UNC Health Pardee is a not-for-profit regional healthcare organization based in Henderson County and managed by UNC Health. The county-owned hospital was founded in 1953 in Hendersonville, NC, and is licensed for 222 acute care beds. Pardee has grown from the Henderson County Hospital to become a healthcare system that serves residents across Henderson, Haywood, Transylvania, and Buncombe counties, offering a wide range of medical services, including a comprehensive primary care physician network, a cancer center, three urgent care locations, four orthopedics and sports medicine clinics and a medical staff representing 43 specialties. For more information or to find a physician, visit pardeehospital.org.
