Technological Advances Leading the Future of Parkinson Care: Cheryl Kyinn, PA-C

WATCH TIME: 4 minutes

“In our field, we need so many hands-on deck and there just are not enough, particularly movement disorder specialists, in the United States. Having these technologies, where you can do telehealth medicine and possibly reaching people in more rural places who don’t have access to a particular movement disorder specialist, is going to be huge.”

Telehealth has emerged as a pivotal tool in managing Parkinson disease (PD), offering patients increased access to specialized care, particularly in underserved or rural areas. Studies have demonstrated that telemedicine can deliver clinical outcomes comparable to in-person visits and enhance patient satisfaction and reducing travel burdens.¹ Moreover, coordinated telehealth programs encompassing speech therapy, physiotherapy, and pharmaceutical care have proven feasible and safe, indicating potential efficacy for individuals with PD residing in remote communities.² These advancements underscore telehealth's role in providing efficient, sustainable, and patient-centered long-term care for those living with PD.

As telehealth expands the reach of PD care, advanced practice providers (APPs), including nurse practitioners and physician assistants, are playing an increasingly vital role in delivering and coordinating that care. Their involvement can enhance continuity, supports individualized treatment plans, and strengthens multidisciplinary collaboration, particularly in settings with limited access to movement disorder specialists.³ APPs are known to be well-positioned to conduct telehealth assessments, manage complex medication regimens, and provide patient education, making them potentially essential to meet the growing demand for high-quality PD care.

Recently, NeurologyLive® sat down with Cheryl Kyinn, PA-C, a physician assistant specializing in PD, to discuss the evolving role of technology and patient engagement in managing the movement disorder. In the interview, she emphasized the shift from limited symptom management to a future focused on disease modification through gene and stem cell therapies as well as underscored the importance of wearable devices, telehealth, and remote DBS programming in enhancing patient accountability and access to care, especially in underserved areas. Furthermore, Kyinn stressed the critical role advanced practice providers can play in addressing the growing demand for specialized care amid a provider shortage.

REFERENCES
1. Wilkinson JR, Spindler M, Wood SM, et al. High patient satisfaction with telehealth in Parkinson disease: A randomized controlled study. Neurol Clin Pract. 2016;6(3):241-251. doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000252
2. Cooley Hidecker MJ, Landers MR, Piccorelli A, Bush E, Singh R. Coordinated speech therapy, physiotherapy, and pharmaceutical care telehealth for people with Parkinson disease in rural communities: an exploratory, 8-week cohort study for feasibility, safety, and signal of efficacy. Rural Remote Health. 2022;22(1):6679. doi:10.22605/RRH6679
3. van Halteren AD, Munneke M, Smit E, Thomas S, Bloem BR, Darweesh SKL. Personalized Care Management for Persons with Parkinson's Disease. J Parkinsons Dis. 2020;10(s1):S11-S20. doi:10.3233/JPD-202126