PANDAS to leave hospital at year's end

Key Points:

• Mass General Brigham (MGB) confirmed that Dr. Williams, one of two primary doctors treating PANS/PANDAS patients at their hospital system, will leave at the end of the year, causing concern among families about continuity of care.
• MGB admitted that a recent message to patients about Williams was sent in error and did not accurately reflect their plans for ongoing patient care, but they are working to provide clearer information to families.
• The closure of MGB’s PANS/PANDAS program, one of the few nationwide addressing both medical and psychiatric aspects, has sparked widespread fear and confusion among parents, who are worried about access to necessary treatments like antibiotics and immunotherapies.
• Alternative care options suggested by MGB include providers outside the hospital system, such as a clinic at Dartmouth Health Children’s and a pediatric rheumatologist at Tufts Medical Center, but many families find these options impractical due to distance and cost.
• Advocates emphasize the importance of a coordinated medical and psychiatric treatment approach for PANS/PANDAS, noting that many healthcare professionals remain unfamiliar or skeptical of the diagnosis, complicating access to effective care.