Epilepsy is one of the four most common neurological diagnosis in the United States. According the CDC, there are 3.4 million people with active epilepsy nationwide: 3 million adults and 470,000 children. Nearly 93,000 of them live in New Jersey. Epilepsy can be complicated to manage, as it has a wide spectrum of causes, seizure types, and responsiveness to treatment can vary patient to patient. Our goal is to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that allows you to manage your epilepsy, and improve your quality of life.
At Capital Health, we have been recognized as a Level 3 epilepsy center by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC), which recognizes our commitment to providing comprehensive care to patients at a specialized epilepsy center. As a NAEC center we offer a comprehensive, team approach to both diagnosing and treating epilepsy.
To accomplish this, our team includes physicians and providers both in our hospitals and our outpatient neuroscience institute specializing in neurology/epilepsy, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, and neuropsychology; as well as EEG technologists, social workers, and Magnet recognized and neuroscience focused nurses.
About Epilepsy
Having a seizure does not always mean you have epilepsy. A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical signals between brain cells. Seizures vary widely with respect to how much of the brain is involved, symptoms, and cause. Seizures can arise from one part of the brain or diffusely. They lead to temporary changes in your movements, behavior, speech, feelings, vision, and/or level of consciousness. Seizures can be due to many factors such as a stroke, head injury, infection, dementia, or other illnesses. However, for two in three people the cause is unknown. Epilepsy is diagnosed when seizures are reoccurring in nature.
Why Visit an Epilepsy Center?
Capital Health is a NAEC certified Level 3 Center. The NAEC specially recognizes epilepsy centers as programs that provide a comprehensive team approach to diagnosing and treating epilepsy that is patient focused.
The team usually includes a neurologist, epileptologist (a neurologist fellowship trained in epilepsy), neurosurgeon, neuropsychologist, nurse, EEG technologist, and social worker.
At Capital Health, we offer acute services for patients in our hospitals as well as those who require long-term follow up by a personally dedicated care team. We offer comprehensive diagnostics, including MRIs, PET scans, and EEGs. In addition, various treatment options are available, including medical or surgical approaches tailored to your specific needs. Our team is also well trained to care for those with more complicated needs such as uncontrolled or intractable seizures, which is also described as refractory epilepsy
Appointments can be scheduled by calling 609-537-7300.