RealTalk MS has teamed up with MS in the 21st Century (MS21) to share a new podcast episode called “Guiding the Future of MS Care: MS21 Consensus Recommendations on Improving MS Care to Relieve the Burden of Disease.”

In this episode, the host, Jon Strum, talks with Amanda Montague, the Interim President and CEO of the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, and Professor Elisabeth G Celius, a neurologist from Oslo University Hospital in Norway.

They discuss how MS21 has been working to make multiple sclerosis (MS) care better so people living with MS can be less affected by their condition. MS21 recently updated its list of important goals for MS care. These updates build on recommendations that were first made in 2013, and many people with MS and health care providers helped to shape them.

Amanda shares how MS treatment has changed over the past 10 years based on her own experiences. Elisabeth explains that health care providers and people with MS agreed on what the top 3 priorities are:

1. Quick treatment after diagnosis – Getting the right care fast
2. Access to many types of care – Such as physical therapy, rehab, and emotional support
3. Better treatment for “invisible” symptoms – Problems like fatigue, memory issues, or pain that others can’t see

Both Amanda and Elisabeth believe these changes could help keep the disability from getting worse and make it easier to deal with invisible symptoms, which can have a big impact on the lives of people with MS.

“It hopefully will provide a perspective for people to look at and engage in meaningful conversations about how to actually improve their care.” [Amanda Montague]

To learn more about the research that went into these recommendations, read the article here.

To listen to the full podcast episode, click the button below.

For more podcasts on important MS topics, visit the Podcast section of the site here