FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 2, 1999

CONTACT: Carole Gan
(916)734-9040

Paul Verke, DDS
(916) 654-1820

NEW ADVICE AND INFORMATION SERVICE LINKS PHYSICIANS THROUGHOUT THE STATE WITH UC DAVIS MEDICAL EXPERTS
Goal is to help doctors treat developmental disabilities and complex medical conditions.

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - A new program funded by a one-year, $180,000 grant from the California Department of Developmental Services gives physicians throughout the state an easy way to obtain the latest information and advice for treating people with developmental disabilities and complex medical conditions.

Known as Physician Assistance, Consultation and Training Network, or PACT Net, the program provides consultation by telephone and/or email for community physicians who treat people with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism or similar conditions. The program is designed to expand on the specialized care offered through the California Department of Developmental Services and their network of 21 Regional Centers, which currently serve more than 150,000 people with developmental disabilities in the state.

"This program is one important way to help physicians and their patients who have complex medical conditions," says Donald M. Hilty, assistant professor of psychiatry at UC Davis School of Medicine and Medical Center and director of the PACT Net program. "These patients have unique medical needs that often require the advice of a medical specialist. The key ingredient of PACT Net is timely specialist-to-physician communication that combines the knowledge and expertise of medical specialists with the practical experiences of community physicians."

The program consists of a toll-free "warm line," whereby UC Davis specialists respond to questions of calling physicians within 24 hours (as opposed to a hot line, which would answer calls immediately). Specialty areas covered through the program include developmental pediatrics, gastroenterology, medical genetics, neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, orthopaedics, pharmacology, psychiatry and pulmonary medicine.

Plans include developing continuing medical education lectures, which will be available to community physicians throughout the state using teleconferencing technology, and a Web site with information for community physicians, individuals with developmental disorders and their families.

"We are pleased to partner with UC Davis Health System to provide this service to physicians who treat these individuals with special medical needs," says Cliff Allenby, director of the Department of Developmental Services.

The program, launched on July 1, complements the research and clinical services developed at the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute and the UC Davis Telemedicine Program. More information about the M.I.N.D. Institute and the UC Davis Telemedicine Program is available at http://mindinstitute.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu and at http://telemedicine.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/research.html. News releases from UC Davis Health System are also available at http://news.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu.

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