levels

[Mr. Pibb]

I have seen listed epilepsy by levels, level3, level4 a little help on the meaning given to each level would be helpful in my understanding of terms also is there a post or thread that has all the medical terms and abrs. so that one doesn't waste time trying to spell these often times long and unpronounceable words,terms.
Jerry

[Bernard]

Level 3 Epilepsy Center. A third-level center should provide the basic range of medical, neuropsychological, and psychosocial services needed to treat patients with refractory epilepsy. Third-level medical centers provide basic neurodiagnostic evaluation, as well as basic medical, neuropsychological, and psychosocial services. These centers do not perform resective epilepsy surgery, although some may implant vagus nerve stimulators. Third level medical-surgical centers provide basic diagnostic and treatment services. In addition, these centers offer noninvasive evaluation for epilepsy surgery, straight-forward resective epilepsy surgery, and implantation of the vagus nerve stimulator. These centers do not perform intracranial evaluations or other more complex resective epilepsy surgery.

Level 4 Epilepsy Center. A fourth level center should provide the more complex forms of intensive neurodiagnostics monitoring, as well as more extensive medical, neuropsychological, and psychosocial treatment. Fourth-level centers also offer a complete evaluation for epilepsy, surgery, including intracranial electrodes, and provide a broad range of surgical procedures for epilepsy.

Guidelines for Epilepsy Centers

[maya partskaya]

which are the best epilelpsy centers for diagnosing difficult types of epilepsy?

[Bernard]

A diagnosis is made by a doctor, not by a center. An epileptologist specializes in seizure disorders and might be best able to interpret test results. Then again, I've heard that many epis are more rigid and tunnel visioned than neuros and sometimes miss the big picture.

Many members here have had to see several doctors until they found one that was willing and able to help them.