'Planning Your Course"...Educational Prog for Newly Dxd w/PD
 

Press Release Source: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Boehringer Ingelheim and National Parkinson Foundation Introduce Planning Your Course, an Educational Program for People Newly Diagnosed With Parkinson's Disease

Tuesday December 12, 9:00 am ET
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061212/n...v=54&printer=1

With the help of pro golfer Cherie Zaun, the program aims to empower and educate people with Parkinson's disease

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., Dec. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- People newly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease now have valuable information available at their fingertips, with a new program called Planning Your Course. Professional golfer Cherie Zaun, diagnosed with the condition in 2003, has collaborated with Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) to develop Planning Your Course, a patient education program specifically designed for people newly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Today, more than a million Americans have the disease, and approximately 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
Planning Your Course is part of the ongoing commitment from Boehringer Ingelheim to providing people with Parkinson's disease, and their caregivers, the tools they need to better understand and manage this chronic condition. Available free of charge via www.planningyourcourse.com, an informational booklet and DVD are central to this educational program. These materials include information on coping with the diagnosis, living well with Parkinson's disease, support services, treatment options, as well as a glossary of terms and advice on how family and loved ones can help.

Ms. Zaun, who helped develop and is featured in Planning Your Course, hopes that hearing her story will help encourage and motivate people newly diagnosed with the disease to maintain a positive attitude and take control of their lives.

"When I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, my family and I were determined to educate ourselves as much as possible, but trying to get information was overwhelming," said Cherie Zaun. "I teamed up with Boehringer Ingelheim on Planning Your Course to provide other people with Parkinson's with the facts they need in one comprehensive and easy-to-understand format."

"We are proud to be part of this educational initiative," said Ruth Hagestuen, RN, MA, National Parkinson Foundation Director of Field Services. "One of our primary goals is to ensure that people with Parkinson's disease have the information they need to understand their condition. We applaud Cherie Zaun for speaking out about her experience with Parkinson's disease and for encouraging patients to stay positive and remain physically active to help live well with this condition."