At UBMD Neurology, we provide specialized care for patients with epilepsy, offering comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management to improve quality of life.

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy affects nearly 1 out of 100 people and impacts countless others, including family members, caregivers, and friends. Epilepsy is defined as a condition of recurrent unprovoked seizures. Seizures may occur for many reasons, including brain injury, birth defects, tumors, trauma, genetics, or unknown causes.

Epilepsy can have an adverse effect on the independence, physical and emotional well-being of the person suffering from this condition. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available to reduce or eliminate seizures and improve the quality of life for people with epilepsy.

Refractory epilepsy occurs when seizures persist despite adequate trials of at least 3 anti-seizure medications (ASD). This occurs in about one-third of patients with epilepsy and those patients may continue to have sometimes debilitating seizures despite pharmacological treatment. It has been reported that some patients may suffer from refractory seizures for about 20 years before being referred to a non-pharmacologic intervention. As such, it is important that every patient with refractory epilepsy be referred to a Level IV Comprehensive Epilepsy Program to evaluate and manage the seizures and epilepsy.

Comprehensive Epilepsy Program and NAEC Level IV Certifications (for both children and adults)

Our Pediatric and Adult Comprehensive Epilepsy Programs offer a broad range of evaluation services and sophisticated therapies for children and adults suffering from seizures. Our state-of-the-art 12-bed Epilepsy Monitoring Center is housed at John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital and is the only center of its kind in Western New York.

Our program serves both children and adults and has been recognized as a Level IV Center by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) consecutively since 2012 for both adults and children.

From the initial evaluation to follow-up care, we promote the overall well-being of our patients and help them understand and live well with their condition. Our dedicated and highly specialized team is comprised of adult and pediatric epileptologists, neurosurgeons, nurses and nurse practitioners, neuro-psychologists, experts in imaging, skilled technicians, specialized dietician, as well as a clinical research program.

Our mission is to improve the quality of life for people with epilepsy through compassionate care and specialized medical treatment. We accomplish this through comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis, individualized treatment plans, patient and family education, research initiatives and follow-up care.

Our Center has expertise in evaluation and management of severe epilepsy in neonates, infants, young children and adolescents. Our pediatric epileptologists have expertise in comprehensive medication management of severe epilepsies seen in children, such as infantile spasms, Lennox Gastaut syndrome and severe epileptic encephalopathies. Select cases can benefit from specialized therapies, epilepsy surgery and neuromodulation.

We have numerous specialized nurses and nurse practitioners that assist in comprehensive evaluation and day-to-day management.

Regional Epilepsy Monitoring Center

The highlight of our program is the Kaleida Health 12-bed state-of-the-art monitoring unit center which allows for digital video and EEG monitoring of a patient’s physical and brain activity 24-hours a day. The Center serves both children and adults and is housed on the 12th floor of Oishei Children's Hospital. This program has been accredited by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers at level IV units for both children and adults.

What is a seizure?

A seizure is a temporary episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that can cause physical and mental changes.

Seizure first aid:

  • Stay with the person until they are awake and alert after the seizure – be sure to time the seizure.

  • Remain calm.

  • Keep the person safe – move or guide away from harm.

  • Turn the person onto their side if they are not awake and aware – be sure to keep airway clear.

  • Loosen tight clothes around neck.

  • Put something small and soft under the head.

  • Do not put any objects in their mouth or restrain.