"I used to feel dizzy with darkened vision after sitting for just three minutes. Now I can sit through an entire meal." Accomplishing such a simple task is closely related to the quality of life of Parkinson's patients. This reflects the true measure of success for the PUMCH multidisciplinary team (MDT) for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, which is improving patients' ability to perform daily activities and enhancing their quality of life. Over a decade of focused work, the team has developed a problem-oriented, disease-specific multidisciplinary collaboration model. Their efforts earned them the 2025 Outpatient Multidisciplinary Collaboration Award at PUMCH.

At PUMCH, "patient-centered care" is never just rhetoric; it’s demonstrated through concrete action. In 2015, with strong institutional support, Chief Physician Wang Han and Chief Physician Wan Xinhua from the Department of Neurology established the MDT for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, bringing together specialists from Rehabilitation, Clinical Nutrition, Gastroenterology, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Pharmacy. The weekly consultation on Wednesday afternoons has since expanded to include a dozen other departments including Urology, Endocrinology and Traditional Chinese Medicine, with additional specialists from Neurosurgery, Cardiology, Psychological Medicine and other departments joining as needed.

For 69-year-old Mr. Wang, sitting down for a meal was once an impossible dream. Diagnosed with multiple system atrophy and severe neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, he couldn't remain seated for long and became largely dependent on others for daily activities. The MDT repeatedly adjusted his blood pressure management and neuromodulation protocols, gradually restoring what he had lost. Now, he sits comfortably through entire meals. At six-month follow-up, his blood pressure remains stable most of the time and dizziness has significantly improved. While multiple system atrophy remains incurable, the team achieved their core objective: correct what can be corrected, maintain quality of life, and sustain patients until treatments become available. The team manages an online support group for orthostatic hypotension patients, which is aptly named "Keep the Flame Alive"—a reminder that hope endures.

An 81-year-old Mr. Sun was hospitalized with a lung infection and placed on a feeding tube. Severely malnourished at just 55 kilograms, he and his family had one wish: to eat normally again. Swallowing studies revealed severe aspiration risk, making tube removal extremely challenging. Working with Clinical Nutrition, Rehabilitation, and Neurology departments, the MDT designed a stepwise protocol: home-based enteral nutritional support, remote rehabilitation guidance, and dynamic swallowing assessments. Thanks to meticulous management and strong family support, Mr. Sun successfully discontinued the feeding tube within a year. Now he eats orally and his weight has stabilized at around 60 kilograms. He and his family are very satisfied. “We measure progress in data, but we truly care about how our patients feel,” the team said.

Real patient conditions inspire meaningful research, and multidisciplinary care, in turn, advances that research. The team continues to advance clinical research across multiple areas: swallowing disorder imaging assessment, differentiating Parkinson's disease from related neurodegenerative conditions, and comprehensive management of orthostatic hypotension. Multiple findings have been published in leading journals.

The team also values patient education and care. In 2015, the team launched a WeChat public account "Our Parkinson's Community," one of China's earliest dedicated public education platforms for Parkinson's disease. Through frequent article publication, live sessions, and patient education programs, they help patients and families better understand and actively manage their conditions. The team also contributed to PUMCH's “Stars Initiative for Health Knowledge Popularization” and authored "A Self-Management Guide for Parkinson's Patients," translating expert knowledge into practical self-care tools.

After a decade of exploration, the team moves forward with renewed focus. Multidisciplinary collaboration unlocks solutions to complex problems, while integrated innovation charts the path ahead. The PUMCH MDT for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders remains committed to advancing diagnostic and treatment excellence, strengthening full-cycle patient management, and pioneering new approaches to treating the most challenging neurological conditions.

Written by Wang Han
Photographed by Sun Liang
Edited by Wang Jingxia
Chief Editor Duan Wenli
Supervised by Wu Peixin