As one of the most common neurological conditions, epilepsy affects nearly 300,000 people in Texas. Because each patient’s epileptic condition is as unique as the individual, Baylor Scott & White has opened a new Epilepsy Center at our hospital in Lakeway to deliver personalized care tailored to each patient’s needs.
1 in 26 people in the United States will develop epilepsy at some point in their life, whether as a child or later in life.
The disease affects more than twice as many people as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis and cystic fibrosis combined.
Thanks to your generosity, support staff underwent specialized training that helped launch the new center, which offers diagnostic evaluations—utilizing four hardwired inpatient epilepsy monitoring unit beds and two mobile units—as well as advanced imaging, medication management and innovative treatment options such as neurostimulation and epilepsy surgery.
Medication is often the first course of treatment for epilepsy and is effective for about 70% of patients, according to Victor Gonzalez Montoya, MD, one of two fellowship-trained epileptologists leading the team at the Epilepsy Center.
“It takes about 10 years of trial and error for doctors to determine a patient will not respond to epilepsy medications and must be referred to a specialist for further treatment,” Dr. Montoya said. “That’s why it’s important to decrease that time frame through education and improved access.”
While a seizure-free life is the goal for some patients, it is not realistic for all patients. That’s why the Epilepsy Center aims not to just manage seizures but also to improve overall quality of life by empowering patients with education and support as they navigate the challenges of living with epilepsy.
The center is part of the NeuroHealth Institute, a multidisciplinary integrated care model that brings together skilled neurosurgery, neurology and pain management providers across the Greater Austin region to diagnose and treat complex neurological conditions.
“At the NeuroHealth Institute, we are striving for a high amount of collaboration and integration,” said Michael Weston, regional director of neuroscience and pain management for the NeuroHealth Institute. “We’re bringing together all these different teams to work toward a quality outcome for each patient.”
