The MGH Epilepsy Service offers diagnosis, treatment, and consultations for seizure disorders, including surgical evaluations, and specialized care for first seizure events.
- Phone: 617-726-3311
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Epilepsy Service
Clinical Services
The Epilepsy Service at Massachusetts General Hospital evaluates and helps manage treatment for patients with epilepsy and related disorders.
Our comprehensive range of clinical services includes:
- Consultation services at the request of primary care physicians, neurologists, neurosurgeons and other specialists
- Epilepsy surgery for patients with epilepsy that is poorly controlled by medication
- First Seizure Clinic for rapid evaluation of patients with newly recognized episodes thought to represent seizures
- Pediatric epilepsy services in which specialists diagnose and treat seizures and related conditions in infants, children and adolescents (MassGeneral Hospital for Children)
- Epilepsy Monitoring Unit for sophisticated evaluation of potential surgical candidates and for diagnostic evaluation of patients with episodes that may represent seizures
- Second-opinion and record-review services to assist physicians in optimizing diagnosis and care for patients with complex neurological problems
- E-consults in which we offer consultation and record review using electronic data transfer under the auspices of the Partners Online Specialty Consultations program.
Filling an Important Need
Andrew J. Cole, MD, founded the Epilepsy Service in 1992 and continues to serve as our director. He has helped assemble a world-class team of subspecialists, including dedicated neuroradiologists and neurosurgeons who specialize in epilepsy surgery. Together, we have earned a reputation for communicating and collaborating closely with neurologists in Greater Boston, around the country and around the world.
Among our key milestones:
- In 1999 we launched the First Seizure Clinic, which was one of the nation's first clinics to focus exclusively on patients suffering seizures for the first time.
- In 2002 we launched the MGH Pediatric Epilepsy Program.
As a National Association of Epilepsy Centers-certified Level 4 Epilepsy Center, we "provide the more complex forms of intensive neurodiagnostics monitoring, as well as more extensive medical, neuropsychological and psychosocial treatment." We also offer a complete evaluation for epilepsy surgery, including intracranial monitoring and complex surgical procedures that many other institutions do not perform.
Research Opportunities
The Epilepsy Service maintains an active research program, and some patients will have the opportunity to enroll in research or clinical trials (Clinical Trials at Partners). For information about ongoing studies and the ability to participate, please call 617-726-5904.
Updated 10/18/2011
