Epilepsy Care at Atrium Health
When you or your loved one is facing epilepsy, you need care from specialists who can pinpoint where the seizures are coming from and deliver the latest, most effective treatments. Atrium Health is here for you, whether you’ve just had your first seizure or have endured epilepsy for years.
We have the highest level of accreditation from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers, we’re home to some of the nation’s top epilepsy experts – and we help 9 out of 10 of our patients get their seizures under control and get back to healthy, active lives.
Expert Epilepsy Diagnosis
Creating your personal treatment plan begins with diagnosis. We use the latest technology to figure out what causes your seizures, so we can help you get them under control.
Diagnosis often starts in our First Seizure Clinic, which is one of the Southeast’s only clinics specializing in care for people who’ve had one seizure and need to know why – without being admitted to the hospital.
If you’ve had seizures for a long time, you may also need tests to help your doctors get a better picture of your epilepsy. Our leading-edge diagnostic tools include:
- Advanced imaging technologies including MRI, PET and SPECT scans, which take pictures of your brain and look for changes that cause epilepsy. Our imaging specialists have evaluated hundreds of cases, so they know exactly what to look for.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG), a safe and painless test that records your brain’s electrical activity using small discs (electrodes) attached to the scalp. This is usually done for 30 minutes to an hour. If routine EEG does not give us an answer, we offer continuous EEG monitoring that observes brain activity for longer periods. Get more detailed information regarding EEG check in locations and prep work (PDF).
- Intracranial EEG (iEEG), where surgeons place electrodes in the brain to pinpoint where seizures begin. We’re also one of the Southeast’s first clinics to offer stereo-EEG (SEEG) – a minimally-invasive technique that’s helping us locate seizures’ origin in more epilepsy cases than ever.
- Brain mapping, Wada testing, and other tools that can help locate where seizures start.
- Neuropsychological testing where doctors evaluate your motor skills, memory and cognition to understand your brain function, and how epilepsy affects it.
Advanced Epilepsy Treatment, Tailored to You
Every person with epilepsy is different. That’s why our team of epileptologists, neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists and nurses work together to create a highly tailored care plan just for you.
We offer the latest treatments, including:
- Medication. For 3 out of 4 patients, medication helps control seizures and improve quality of life. We have the expertise to know which drug – or combination of drugs – might work best for you.
- Dietary therapy. Certain diets, like the ketogenic diet, may help reduce the frequency of your seizures. Our team of dietitians, nurses and physicians will help you find and follow the right nutritional plan for you.
- Surgery. When medication and diet don’t work, surgery can be a highly effective treatment option. Our surgeons are specially trained in minimally invasive epilepsy procedures, including lobe resection and corpus callosotomy, among others. A state-of-the-art robotic system helps surgeons perform extremely precise operations.
- Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). When medication isn’t effective, we can implant a VNS device to deliver electrical pulses that can prevent seizures. We’ve implanted hundreds of VNS devices, giving us the expertise to know when they’re appropriate.
- Responsive neurostimulation (RNS). We’re leaders in using RNS, which is a device similar to a heart pacemaker. RNS continuously monitors your brain waves, and delivers small, precise pulses to stop seizure activity as soon as it begins.
Meet Our Patient: Norma's Story
After decades of epileptic seizures that couldn’t be controlled by medication, Norma thought she’d never live a full life. But since undergoing surgery at our Level 4 epilepsy center, she’s been seizure-free – and now, she’s making up for lost time.
World-Class Care, Without Leaving Home
We offer epilepsy care throughout Charlotte and Concord, but we know that for many people with epilepsy, driving isn’t an option. That’s why we’re launching a “tele-epilepsy” clinic that offers appointments via a FaceTime-like video connection to connect you straight to your care team. This virtual care option is coming soon.
Epilepsy Clinical Trials
Our experts raise the bar on care by leading clinical trials of new treatments and approaches. Through our in-house clinical trials, we’re researching – and giving you access to – the most promising breakthrough therapies.
For example, we’re testing a new drug, called padsevonil, that could reduce seizures in patients who are resistant to traditional epilepsy medications. We’re also investigating staccato alprazolam — an innovative way to deliver anti-seizure medication, by spraying it on a patient’s lips instead of traditional, rectal delivery.
To find out more about our current epilepsy clinical trials, call 704-512-2802.
Caring for the Whole You
Our goal isn’t just to treat your seizures – it’s to help you lead a fuller life. We offer many resources to support you throughout your journey, including:.
- A monthly epilepsy support group, which hosts talks about new treatments and other key issues. We also host social events, like chili cook-offs, to help you build a supportive community.
- Psychiatrists who can address mental health issues like depression or anxiety.
- Social workers who support you as you manage your condition.
- Patient navigators who help you schedule appointments and find resources to make your life easier.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 704-512-2802.
Outpatient Care
Epilepsy/Sleep Clinic
1225 Harding Place, Suite 4200 Charlotte, NC 28204
Phone: 704-446-1900
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315 Medical Park Dr., Suite 202
Concord, NC 28025
Phone: 704-403-1911
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10660 Park Road, Pineville Medical Plaza II, Suite 4500
Charlotte, NC 28210
Phone: 704-446-1900
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Inpatient Care
920 Church St. North
Concord, NC 28025
Phone: 704-403-3000
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