OUR LADY OF MERCY MEDICAL CENTER OPENS EPILEPSY CENTER IN THE BRONX, NEW YORK
Among the features of the Our Lady of Mercy Epilepsy Center is an Epilepsy Clinic, and an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit for patients believed to have complex conditions. In addition, the Epilepsy Clinic will have consultation offices and facilities for support group meetings and research projects.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Fred Yaeger
Phone:
914/423-7972
Pager: 914/445-0262
OUR LADY OF
MERCY MEDICAL CENTER OPENS EPILEPSY CENTER
Our Lady of Mercy Medical
Center (OLM) in the Bronx, New York has opened a new epilepsy center. Epilepsy
is the chronic, unpredictable neurological condition characterized by
intermittent electrical and chemical disturbances in the brain that cause
seizures. It is the most prevalent serious neurological disorder of childhood,
and second only to stroke as a condition that can strike at any stage of life.
Up to 10% of the population will experience at least one seizure some time in
their lives and over 110,000 people in New York City have epilepsy.
The
Epilepsy Center at Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center is comprised of neurologists
and neurosurgeons specializing in epilepsy, as well as pediatric neurologists,
nurse clinicians, pharmacologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, educational
counselors, social workers and technologists.
Among the features of the
new center is an Epilepsy Clinic, and an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit for patients
believed to have complex conditions. Recently, there have been new developments
in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. Computerized technology helps to
characterize the seizures in order to choose the best possible treatment for
each patient. Simultaneous recording with video and EEG has been one of these
developments. The new epilepsy unit at OLM is equipped with this sophisticated
state of the art equipment. In addition, the Epilepsy Clinic has consultation
offices and facilities for support group meetings and research
projects.
“The majority of patients will be able to be treated for
epilepsy with medication,” said Kamran Tabaddor, M.D., Director of Neurosurgery
at Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center. “However, patients who show no response to
any forms of medical treatment may be considered for epilepsy surgery, the
primary goal of which is to eliminate seizures. Due to the obviously sensitive
nature of surgery, prospective patients undergo extensive evaluation. It is
important to note that of the patients selected for surgery 70% become seizure
free and 20% significantly improve after surgery. Patients will also have at
their disposal a 24-hour telephone support team comprised of members of our
staff.”
“Epilepsy research is also a very important component of the
program,” stated Marc Lancman, M.D., a neurologist and leading expert on
epilepsy. Dr. Lancman continued, “our epilepsy team will be conducting several
clinical, pharmacology, neurophysiology and biomedical engineering research
projects.”
For more information or for a consultation call the Our Lady
of Mercy Epilepsy Center
at 718/655-6595.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2003/9/prweb79115.htm