Your staYin the epilepsY

monitoring unit

Centra medical group epilepsy Center

1901 tate springs roadlynchburg, Virginia 24501

434.200.3600

Centrahealth.com

Centra nonDisCrimination notiCe

Centra complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Centra does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

englishATTENTION: If you speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1.434.401.0685 (TTY: 7.1.1).

español (spanish)ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1.434.401.0685 (TTY: 7.1.1).

한국어 (Korean)주의: 한국어를 사용하시는 경우, 언어 지원 서비스를 무료로 이용하실 수 있습니다. 1.434.401.0685 (TTY: 7.1.1) 번으로 전화해 주십시오.

YOUR RESOURCE FOR TREATMENT OF EPILEPSY

Seizures affect your overall well being. The ultimate goal of treatment is to end seizures, prevent side effects, and help give you a positive outlook on life. Long-term success requires a precise diagnosis and treatment matched to your individual needs. Under the medical direction of Batool F. Kirmani, MD, the Centra Epilepsy Center provides inpatient and outpatient diagnostic evaluations of epilepsy and offers options for appropriate treatment. Epilepsy surgical interventions are conducted by specialized neurosurgeons who are experienced in multiple epilepsy surgical procedures, such as temporal and extratemporal resection, lesionectomy and vagus nerve stimulation, among others. You and your caregivers will also be provided with helpful education on living with epilepsy.

OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Dr. Kirmani earned her medical degree from Rawalpindi Medical College/University of Punjab. She served a postdoctoral fellowship in neurogenetics at Uniformed Services University of the

Health Sciences and an internship in preliminary medicine at the Berkshire Medical Center/University of Massachusetts Medical School. She completed her residency in adult neurology at Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University and a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology/epilepsy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Kirmani is board certified in epilepsy and neurology.

WHAT IS A EPILEPSY?

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder, characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. It is the fourth most common neurological condition, affecting 2.7 million Americans. According to Epilepsy Foundation Virginia, more than 84,000 Virginians are living with epilepsy. Epilepsy and seizures can develop at any age, but are more common in young children and older adults. The seizures in epilepsy may be related to a brain injury, genetic makeup, infection, or stroke, but often the cause is unknown. The electrical events that produce seizures occur in the brain. The location of the event, how it spreads, how much of the brain is affected, and how long a seizure lasts have a major impact. Having seizures and epilepsy can affect your safety, relationships, employment, driving, and other areas of your life. You are being referred to the epilepsy monitoring unit for further evalutaion so that we can begin helping you improve your physical, mental, and social well being.

THE EPILSEPSY MONITORING UNIT

Our providers in our epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) record, evaulate, diagnosis, and treat seizures in patients of all ages. The EMU is fully equipped with electroencephalography (EEG – the measurement of electrical activity produced by the brain), video, and sound recording equipment that allow for continuous monitoring by our specially trained staff. Seizures are recorded, characterized, and

localized. Our multidisciplinary team works to determine the cause of the seizures, if possible, and uses technology to establish the localized area of the brain where the seizure begins. We also can provide short-term EEG monitoring, which does not require a hospital admission.The information obtained from this monitoringhelps the epilepsy team recommend therapy to best treat your seizure disorder, including medication, lifestyle changes, vagus nerve stimulator or surgical treatment.

EMU ADMISSION

You might be contacted by the pre-registration department to get your admission pre-registered over the phone. On the day of your admission, please arrive at the Terrace level lobby to complete admission paperwork. Once your admission is completed a volunteer will take you upstairs to the EMU floor.

WHAT TO BRING FOR YOUR STAY

• Photo ID and insurance card(s)• Personal care items such as soap, toothpaste,

and toiletries• Books, toys, board games, battery-operated

games, handwork, schoolwork, videos, etc., to help pass the time

• Comfortable clothing that can be removed with the EEG electrodes in place, such as button-front shirts or pajamas. You may wear a hospital gown if you prefer. We ask that you wear dark-colored clothing is to improve video

quality. Avoid nylon or satin material, which may cause static and interfere with the EEG monitoring.

• All of your medications, whether for seizures or other reasons

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE EMU

• EEG leads will be attached to your head for the entire time you are admitted. A long cable allows easy movement around the room.

• You will be able to wash up in the bathroom, but not shower or wash your hair.

• You will be required to stay in view of the video cameras in your room or the day room, except while in the bathroom.

• Seizure medications may be decreased or stopped during admission to increase the chances of having seizures. For most patients intravenous (IV) access is established to be able to give medication quickly to stop a seizure if it goes on too long.

• TV and local phone service are provided at no charge. Cell phones may not be used because of interference with the monitoring.

• Visiting hours are normally 8 am to 8 pm. If exceptions are needed, please discuss with the nursing staff. Children may visit for brief periods of time but cannot stay with family members.

• Smoking is not permitted on the Centra campus.

• Nicotine patches are available over the counter or through your primary care provider.