Care Focused on You
Our fellowship trained doctors offer specialized, state-of-the-art services for diagnosing and treating epilepsy. The team targets care for different types of epilepsy in adults and children, so you get services for your specific needs. Our experts take your personal goals and priorities into account and work closely with your primary care doctor to create your treatment plan. We look at the big picture, finding solutions for your overall health.
Carle's Epilepsy Center offers a team approach to caring for people with seizures and epilepsy. Treatment depends on accurate diagnosis, so we offer testing to confirm your diagnosis and figure out the type of epilepsy you have.
Epilepsy specialists can help you explore all treatment options with the goal of getting the most effective seizure control possible. Many people with epilepsy can live seizure free with proper medication and treatment.
Treatments may include:
- Certain types of medication
- Having surgery
- Devices
- Certain psychology services dealing with the brain and nervous system
Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU)
Your time in Carle’s EMU helps the neurology team develop a clearer path for treating conditions marked by seizures and other complications that can occur without warning.
This is a dedicated unit consisting of:
- Private data recording rooms designed for your safety
- Nearby room with real-time monitors and review stations where you'll be continuously monitored by experienced staff
- Specially-trained nursing and technical staff to respond to seizures, issues and events 24/7
Once we have enough data to make an assessment, our epileptologists create a care plan to control your seizures and follow your progress until you're stable. If your seizures are controlled by medication, you'll work with your primary care doctor to monitor your condition. If your condition changes, you'll return to the epilepsy clinic for further evaluation.
If your seizures don't respond to medication, you'll be evaluated for potential epilepsy surgery or stimulation device implantation and continue care with our Epilepsy Center team through surgery and confirmation that the seizures have ceased.
Research
Our team works closely with researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This partnership gives us access to groundbreaking research and expertise to help you and to impact epilepsy treatment for years to come. Clinical research trials are available, meaning you can play a role in impacting future patients.
When to Request a Referral
If you have questions or would like a referral, talk to your primary care provider. You should request a referral if:
- You don't know what type of seizures you have.
- Your seizures aren't under control after 12 months.
- Your seizures aren't under control after trying two anti-seizure prescriptions.
