BOCA RATON, FL – January 15, 2018 – The Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital announces
the establishment of an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU). The Unit is designed
to evaluate, diagnose and treat intractable seizures in adult patients.
In the EMU, seizures are recorded and studied so that proper diagnosis
can be made and treatment can be optimized. Patients who suffer from seizures
that are difficult to diagnose and manage are those most likely to be
admitted, as well as those who are being considered for seizure surgery.
Patients who take medication to control seizures may have their dosage
adjusted or discontinued to increase the probability of seizure activity,
providing the opportunity for them to be recorded and analyzed. The anticipated
length of stay in the EMU varies with each patient, depending upon the
tests and monitoring required and the number of seizures each patient
experiences.
Staffed with specially trained medical, nursing, and technical personnel,
the EMU is equipped with computer-based monitoring equipment designed
for the evaluation of seizure disorders 24 hours a day.
“The ability to continuously monitor each patient in the EMU allows
our team to refine diagnoses and respond in real time to a patient's
needs as a seizure occurs,” said Pooja Patel, MD, Director of the
Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at the Institute. “Based on the evaluation,
the best treatment options can be determined with the goal of reducing
a patient’s seizure burden and improving quality of life.”
Typically, patients have an initial outpatient consultation with a physician
at the Marcus Neuroscience Institute. If appropriate, an admission will
then be scheduled. Referring physicians will receive a full report from
the patient's EMU neurologist after discharge.
“The establishment of an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit is another example
of the growing clinical capabilities at the Marcus Neuroscience Institute,”
said Frank Vrionis, MD, MPH, PhD, Director of the Institute. “This
will prove to be a valuable tool for the treatment of patients with epilepsy.”
About the Marcus Neuroscience Institute.
The Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital is an
innovative nexus for neurologic and neurosurgical care. The 57,000-square-foot
facility houses a 20-bed Neuro Intensive Care and Step-Down Unit, four
dedicated operating rooms — including one equipped with intraoperative
MRI and two with intraoperative CT capability — and a biplane angiography
suite, a crucial component in the diagnosis and care of neurological conditions.
The Institute has a staff of three neurosurgeons and eight neurologists
who represent some of the most respected clinicians in their fields and
is affiliated with Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt
College of Medicine.
Media Contact:
Alexandra Schilling, 561.955.4706
Communications Specialist
aschilling@brrh.com