Published on June 10, 2020
Epilepsy Monitoring Unit opens at OHRH
Owensboro Health is always searching for ways make our high-quality care more convenient for the communities we serve. That commitment expanded yesterday as we celebrated the opening of the region’s only Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) inside Owensboro Health Regional Hospital.
The EMU offers advanced neurology services to patients, including continuous video EEG testing in a safe environment, which helps manage seizure activity and reduce or even stop anti-epileptic medication use.
OHRH’s Neurology Unit sees several patients each month in need of more advanced Epilepsy Monitoring Services (EMS) who are then referred to outside programs in Nashville or Louisville. The new unit allows them to continue receiving excellent care close to home at OHRH.
“Having an EMU will reduce the hardships patients with epilepsy have had in the past when they have been required to travel for this service. It is also significant for the growth of our neurology services offered at OH,” Electrodiagnostics Manager Sara Abell said.
A request was made for the implementation of an EMU by Dr. Fawad Bilal when he came to Owensboro Health in 2018, and he’s optimistic about OH’s ability to provide these services to patients.
“Approximately three million people in the US have epilepsy. The goal of epilepsy treatment is to stop seizures, with medications being the first line of treatment. Establishing a diagnosis of epilepsy or unexplained spells can be very challenging. Advanced EEG monitoring, as provided in our new EMU, along with three Tesla Brain MRI may be used to better understand and treat seizures and minimize medication’s side effects.”
The project comes to life as a culmination of the leadership and hard work of Abell and experienced Registered EEG Technologist Paula Cristurean, in coordination with Hillary Strahan, Debbie Bostic, Joni Sims, Cathy Stewart and Kathy Carr.
“We recruited Paula for her expertise in EEG. Dr. Bilal and Paula have been instrumental in the program development and in the preparation of our EEG and nursing staff for the successful launching of services offered in the EMU,” Abell said.
For more information on the EMU, click here.
About Owensboro Health
Owensboro Health is a nonprofit health system with a mission to heal the sick and to improve the health of the communities it serves in Kentucky and Indiana. The system includes Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, nationally recognized for design, architecture and engineering; Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital; Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center; the Owensboro Health Medical Group comprised of over 350 providers at more than 30 locations; three outpatient Healthplex facilities, a certified medical fitness facility, the Healthpark; a weight management program, and the Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center.
On average each year, we have more than 19,000 inpatient admissions, deliver 2,000 babies and provide the region’s only Level III NICU. Owensboro Health physicians perform nearly 33,000 surgical procedures, including nearly 150 open-heart surgeries. Our physicians and staff have 90,000 Emergency Department visits and more than 1.25 million outpatient visits annually. Visit our home page for more information.