Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville offers a dedicated, inpatient epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) for patients who suffer from seizures, undiagnosed epilepsy or epilepsy not responding to treatment.
An EMU is a unique type of patient room that allows patients to have a seizure in a safe and controlled environment. The “smart rooms” are equipped with lights, alarms, microphones and cameras which are remotely monitored to ensure safety at all times.
Patients undergo continuous video electroencephalograms (EEGs) 24 hours a day to measure electrical activity in the brain. Seizures can sometimes be difficult to capture in shorter studies, so patients can expect to stay in the hospital for an average of 3 to 5 days to ensure the best results.
Ideal candidates for a stay in the EMU are patients with unexplained seizures or who do not respond to seizure medication. Admission to the EMU is by physician referral by an epileptologist, which is a neurologist who receives additional, focused training in the diagnosis and treatment of seizures.
NGMC is proud to be an accredited as a National Association of Epilepsy Center.
