St. David’s North Austin Gets Epilepsy Center Designation

NORTH AUSTIN, TX — St. David’s North Austin Medical Center has been designated as the first Level 4 epilepsy center in Central Texas for adults and children by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers, officials said.

The key designation affirms the hospital provides the highest level of medical and surgical evaluation and treatment for patients with complex epilepsy.

“As the Central Texas community grows, the demand for specialized healthcare for patients from childhood to adulthood is increasing,” Dr. Ryan Charbeneau, chief medical officer of St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, said kn a prepared statement. “We wanted to create an epilepsy program that provides the highest level of care at a greater continuum throughout a patient’s life.”

Patients who age out of pediatric care at the hospital’s epilepsy center can continue treatment with the same care team, including epileptologists (neurologists with expertise in treating seizures), neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, nurse and tech specialists, as well as social workers, officials noted.

“The Epilepsy Center at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center provides a comprehensive approach to the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy,” Dr. Sami Aboumatar, epileptologist at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, said in a prepared statement. “We are proud to be recognized by the NAEC for the highest level of epilepsy care.”

The National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) recognizes four levels of epilepsy care. Level 1 typically occurs in an emergency room, and Level 2 involves consultation with a neurologist. Levels 3 and 4 occur at an epilepsy center, with Level 4 centers performing more complex surgeries and complex forms of neurodiagnostic monitoring.

For more information about the Epilepsy Center at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, visit StDavids.com.

ABOUT ST. DAVID'S NORTH AUSTIN MEDICAL CENTER (provided text):

St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, which is part of St. David’s HealthCare, is a 424-bed multi-specialty, acute care facility dedicated to the highest level of women’s health services, including maternity and newborn care with Level I, II and III nurseries at the adjacent St. David’s Women’s Center of Texas. The facility also features a 24-hour emergency department, the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery, the Bariatric Center, heart and vascular center, Level 4 epilepsy center, neurology and neurosurgery, a kidney transplant program, inpatient and outpatient surgery and acute inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, among many others. St. David’s North Austin Medical Center is also home to St. David’s Children’s Hospital. St. David’s Surgical Hospital, which opened in October 2016, is a campus of St. David’s North Austin Medical Center.

>>> Photo courtesy of St. David’s North Austin Medical Center