For our patients' convenience, Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center is offering same day or next day epilepsy consultations at a number of Cleveland Clinic Regional Hospitals and Family Health Centers, in addition to a comprehensive array of epilepsy services provided on main campus.
To make an appointment call: 216.444.5559
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
9500 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio 44195
Adult and pediatric epilepsy consultations. See physicians’ directory.
Fairview Hospital
18101 Lorain Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44111
Pediatric epilepsy consultations: Ingrid Tuxhorn, MD
Lakewood Hospital
14519 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
Pediatric epilepsy consultations: Ingrid Tuxhorn, MD
Hillcrest Hospital
6780 Mayfield Road
Mayfield Heights, OH 44124
Pediatric epilepsy consultations: Deepak Lachhwani, MD
Willoughby Hills Family Health Center
2570 SOM Center Road
Willoughby Hills, OH 44094
Adult epilepsy consultations: Imad Najm, MD
What to expect during my first appointment?
For our adult patients: During your first appointment you will meet with members of our Epilepsy Team, who will take your medical history, perform a physical examination and complete a series of neurological and blood tests. Although your tests will be performed as quickly as possible, you should expect some waiting; you may want to bring some reading material to help pass the time.
For our pediatric patients: If you are the parent or the caretaker of a child or adolescent , the first appointment would take place in the outpatient department of the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, located on the 7th floor of the S building (desk S-71). A physician, who specializes in epilepsy, would meet with you to gather information about your child’s medical history and perform a physical examination. Towards the end of this visit, the physician would discuss with you the initial diagnostic impression, suggest the tests, which would be pertinent for your child’s epilepsy type as well as discuss some possible treatment options. Such a visit would typically take 1-2 hours.
What do I need to bring to my first appointment?
For our adult patients: Your past medical record is very helpful to us. On the day of your appointment, please bring your actual films, CD/DVD and test results of any X-ray, angiography, MRI, CATor CT and/or your EEG records, that relates to your medical condition. Also if you have been in the hospital recently (other than Cleveland Clinic), please bring a copy of your hospital discharge summary sheet as well as other relevant hospital information. Your local physician can help you obtain these items.
For our pediatric patients: A family member or a caregiver who has witnessed some of the child’s seizures should accompany during the clinic visit. This is essential in obtaining the details of the nature of the seizures. You should closely work with your child’s regular medical care provider and obtain records of all previous testing that have been performed. Previous EEG reports, summaries of video/EEG evaluations, CT, MRI films and other laboratory tests form an important part of the medical history of a child with epilepsy. It is best to bring these records physically with you to your first appointment. Sending them via mail adds unnecessary delays to the procurement of the records in a timely fashion. You may prepare (ahead of time) a list of all the previous and current antiepileptic medications including information about the dose used and the duration for which they were given. You may also bring the bottles of the current medications that your child is on.
What testing would occur?
Most of the patients who come to the Cleveland Clinic for a comprehensive evaluation of their epilepsy would be prescheduled for an outpatient EEG prior to their initial clinic visit. If the diagnosis is not clear or if they may be potential candidates for epilepsy surgery they would need to undergo epilepsy monitoring unit evaluation. The family is contacted by our epilepsy nursing staff for scheduling a return visit to the epilepsy-monitoring unit with the next available opening. Further tests (as may be indicated) are scheduled around this visit to coordinate a streamlined efficient visit for the convenience of patient and their families. Such tests may include MRI, PET, SPECT, WADA test, neuropsychology evaluation etc. Watch a series of webcasts prepared by our epilepsy physicians, that can help you understand these procedures.
If video-EEG monitoring is needed, how long would the stay be?
The expected length of stay is 3-5 days. The duration of stay largely depends upon the frequency and complexity of seizures as well as the necessity of doing additional testing (e.g. SPECT scan). In the case of a diagnostic evaluation where surgery is not being considered, the expected length of stay is 3-5 days. However, for a presurgical evaluation where additional testing (e.g. SPECT) and consultations (e.g. neuropsychological evaluation) might be indicated, the length of stay is 5-7 days.
Most of the time you will stay in bed or in a reclining chair next to your bed. You will be disconnected from the equipment to get up and move about twice a day. You also will be disconnected to use the restroom and to shower. Having a family member or staff person accompany you on all walks is required for your safety as your medication has been reduced or discontinued. For your safety, we also limit your walking within the unit itself.
Children are encouraged to bring along their favorite blankets, toys, books, pacifiers or other comfort items. Feel free to bring any photographs, pictures or small items that will make your child’s room seem more like home. Parents are encouraged to stay around-the-clock with their child, though only one person may stay overnight. After monitoring is completed, young patients are welcome to use the playroom and playdeck in the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, where the Pediatric Monitoring Unit is located.
For more details about your stay in the Monitoring Unit, download the complete brochure. (PDF)
What would I take home with me?
At the end of the evaluation, the physician would be able to provide you with a summary impression from the information available from the testing and further recommendations for a treatment plan. Within the following few days, your referring physician (unless otherwise specified) can expect to receive a copy of the complete evaluation and further recommendations. Epilepsy is a disorder that needs a very close follow up care on an ongoing basis. We like to work very closely with your referring physicians in providing them with feedback and future recommendations whenever needed. In many cases medication levels and prescriptions are best handled by follow up closer to home with the regular physician. However, we would like to stay available for further consultation and follow up visits at any time in the future.
