Carondelet Health Network Opens New Epilepsy Monitoring Unit
The community need for epilepsy and neurology services continues to grow throughout the Southern Arizona region. To meet this need and better serve the healthcare needs of the area, Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital has introduced a dedicated unit for epilepsy monitoring.
The new Epilepsy Monitoring Unitconsists of two dedicated private rooms that will provide specialized care and monitoring for epilepsy patients to determine the type and frequency of seizures, and the site of onset. The state-of-the-art EMU will be equipped with Video-EEG monitoring equipment to provide the health network’s epileptology and neurology doctors with 24-hour continuous observation. Video-EEG monitoring is critical to determine if surgery could be an effective treatment for those whose seizures are not controlled with medications.
“Identifying the most appropriate treatment plan for you or your family member starts with a thorough evaluation and diagnosis. With this added technology, we will not only be able to evaluate seizure disorders, but also create individualized and comprehensive treatment plans to reduce and provide answers about the seizure activity patients’ experience,” said Dr. Kendra Drake, medical director for the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit.
The population with the largest growth in epilepsy is for people 65 or older, due to the aging of the U.S. population and increases in life expectancy. As the population suffering from epilepsy or other neurological conditions continues to grow, Carondelet Health Network will continue to advance care and technology in the neuroscience specialty.
“Establishing an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit within St. Joseph’s Hospital further specializes and enhances the care we are able to provide our patients,” said Monica Vargas-Mahar, Carondelet Health Network’s market CEO. “We are committed to providing our patients – our families, friends, and loved ones — with specialized care across Southern Arizona.”
