Rochester, MN – October 1, 2013—The Willis-Ekbom Disease (WED) Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of a new program designed to improve diagnosis and treatment for individuals living with Willis-Ekbom disease, also known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). The Foundation is developing a network of WED-RLS Quality Care Centers (QCC) that has highly developed expertise in diagnosis and disease management over time. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) has just been certified and joins the WED Foundation QCC network.

The program, under the direction of QCC Director Dr. William Ondo, will benefit patients and families through:

• Recognition of UTHealth as a specialty center in treating WED/RLS patients with a range of complexities and co morbidities;
• Availability of UTHealth QCC staff as information and referral resources for referring primary care providers
• Better understanding of the disease process and the patient’s role in care management through educational offerings, print materials, and connections with WED Foundation local support groups

Every day, the WED Foundation hears from WED/RLS patients who need help in finding a knowledgeable provider, better understanding of their disease, or finding new answers when their treatment loses effectiveness. “Nobody with WED/RLS should have a reduced quality of life,” says WED Foundation Executive Director Georgianna Bell. “This disease can be effectively managed over time, and we aim to work with clinicians to fulfill this expectation.”

To learn more about the WED/RLS Quality Care Center Program, please visit www.willis-ekbom.org.