Connect.Parkinson: Connecting Individuals With Parkinson Disease to Specialists in Their Homes

Connect.Parkinson is a national study examining the feasibility and effectiveness of using
video calls to bring expert Parkinson disease care directly into patients' homes. Currently,
access to care for Parkinson disease is limited by distance, disability, and the
distribution of doctors. Approximately 200 individuals with Parkinson disease (who due to
distance, disability, disparity, or doctor distribution have limited access to care) will be
randomized to one of two arms in this comparative effectiveness study. The first (control)
arm will be the individual's "usual care" supplemented by educational materials on their
condition. This usual care may include care from a generalist, care from a neurologist, or
in-person care from a Parkinson specialist. The care received by the control group will vary
but will be an accurate reflection of usual care in this country. The second (intervention)
arm will be usual care supplemented by educational materials and care from a Parkinson
disease specialist delivered via web-based video conferencing into the patient's home. The
participants will also be asked with they have a primary care partner, and care partners
will be invited to enroll, for a total of approximately 400 participants.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Individuals with clinically diagnosed Idiopathic Parkinson disease in the judgment of
the independent rater

- No better alternative explanation for the parkinsonism

- Access to a non-public, internet-enabled device (e.g., computer, tablet computer,
smart phone) that has the capacity for web-based video conferencing

- Be physically located at time visits are conducted in a state where the participating
physician is licensed to practice medicine

- Have a local care provider that the study team can contact

- Live at home, in a senior housing complex, or assisted living facility

- Be fluent in English (all participating states) or Spanish (participants in Florida
and Massachusetts only)

- Willing and able to provide informed consent

- Care partner (if applicable) must be able and willing to provide informed consent to
participate if he or she so chooses.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Currently hospitalized

- Condition (e.g., prominent psychosis) that precludes study participation as
identified by the medical professional (site investigator or nurse).

- Participation in another telemedicine study.