OUR LADY OF MERCY MEDICAL CENTER OPENS EPILEPSY CENTER IN THE BRONX, NEW YORK

Among the features of the Our Lady of Mercy Epilepsy Center is an Epilepsy Clinic, and an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit for patients believed to have complex conditions. In addition, the Epilepsy Clinic will have consultation offices and facilities for support group meetings and research projects.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:         
Contact: Fred Yaeger
Phone:     914/423-7972
Pager:     914/445-0262

OUR LADY OF MERCY MEDICAL CENTER OPENS EPILEPSY CENTER

Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center (OLM) in the Bronx, New York has opened a new epilepsy center. Epilepsy is the chronic, unpredictable neurological condition characterized by intermittent electrical and chemical disturbances in the brain that cause seizures. It is the most prevalent serious neurological disorder of childhood, and second only to stroke as a condition that can strike at any stage of life. Up to 10% of the population will experience at least one seizure some time in their lives and over 110,000 people in New York City have epilepsy.

The Epilepsy Center at Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center is comprised of neurologists and neurosurgeons specializing in epilepsy, as well as pediatric neurologists, nurse clinicians, pharmacologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, educational counselors, social workers and technologists.

Among the features of the new center is an Epilepsy Clinic, and an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit for patients believed to have complex conditions. Recently, there have been new developments in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. Computerized technology helps to characterize the seizures in order to choose the best possible treatment for each patient. Simultaneous recording with video and EEG has been one of these developments. The new epilepsy unit at OLM is equipped with this sophisticated state of the art equipment. In addition, the Epilepsy Clinic has consultation offices and facilities for support group meetings and research projects.

The majority of patients will be able to be treated for epilepsy with medication," said Kamran Tabaddor, M.D., Director of Neurosurgery at Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center. However, patients who show no response to any forms of medical treatment may be considered for epilepsy surgery, the primary goal of which is to eliminate seizures. Due to the obviously sensitive nature of surgery, prospective patients undergo extensive evaluation. It is important to note that of the patients selected for surgery 70% become seizure free and 20% significantly improve after surgery. Patients will also have at their disposal a 24-hour telephone support team comprised of members of our staff."

Epilepsy research is also a very important component of the program," stated Marc Lancman, M.D., a neurologist and leading expert on epilepsy. Dr. Lancman continued, our epilepsy team will be conducting several clinical, pharmacology, neurophysiology and biomedical engineering research projects."

For more information or for a consultation call the Our Lady of Mercy Epilepsy Center
at 718/655-6595.
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About Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center
Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center is a University Hospital of New York Medical College, and is a member of the Catholic Health Care System.