Saint Joseph recognized for most-advanced epilepsy care

Saint Joseph Hospital has received National Association of Epilepsy Centers Level IV Certification, the highest level of certification the NAEC offers, and is the only Peaks hospital to be so recognized for providing the most-advanced epilepsy care available.

“We’re more advanced at every level, but there are two major components of the care we provide that separate us from the rest of the pack,” said Shankar Perumal, MD, Neurology. “Our Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, which keeps our patients safe while we capture their seizure activity, and the surgical options we offer patients once we’ve identified the nature of their seizures.”

Perumal spent more than a decade at another Level IV epilepsy center before arriving at Saint Joseph, looking for a hospital and care model that would allow him more time with his patients and more time to plan highly complex surgery cases. He says he’s now found the perfect blend of compassionate, thoughtful care and a comprehensive team with second-to-none specialization, training and expertise.

Epilepsy care at Saint Joseph includes intensive monitoring and comprehensive multidisciplinary services for patients requiring surgical and nonsurgical treatment. The team includes epileptology, epilepsy-specific neurosurgery, neuropsychology, psychosocial therapy, a specially trained nursing staff and the most advanced technology for complex surgery.

“The epilepsy care we provide at Saint Joseph is on par with any academic epilepsy center, and in some cases, beyond,” he said. “Patients would not find better options for the treatment they need elsewhere.”

But at the top is no place to rest. Perumal says even further advancement is on the horizon both for epilepsy care in general and the care provided at Saint Joseph, including adopting new surgery techniques and broadening the patient base eligible for surgery.

“Minimally invasive techniques always are better for epilepsy patients, so we’re going to pursue the increased use of laser ablation when appropriate to improve outcomes and our patients’ experience,” he said. “Also, surgery is typically reserved for epilepsy patients with focal seizures, but data on new tech shows surgery also can be an option for patients with generalized seizures. That’s an exciting development.”

Physicians with questions about Saint Joseph’s Epilepsy Center can contact Perumal at shankar.x.perumal@kp.org.