OU Health Adult and Pediatric Epilepsy Programs Gain Reaccreditation

OU Health Epilepsy Center and its programs for advanced-level care of adults and children with epilepsy have again achieved Level 4 accreditation from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers. Level 4 centers are recognized for their capacity to offer more complex forms of care, including neurodiagnostic monitoring, as well as more extensive medical, neuropsychological and psychosocial treatments. Programs must meet rigorous criteria for accreditation every two years.

Cherie Herren, M.D., pediatric neurology specialist and director of OU Health epilepsy programs, said, "We are excited to again be accredited by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers as a Level 4 Epilepsy Center in both adult and pediatric epilepsy. As the only Level 4 Epilepsy Center in the state of Oklahoma, our programs place OU Health at the forefront of epilepsy care, unrivaled for its extensive collaboration between adult and pediatric epileptologists, and adult and pediatric neurosurgeons who specialize in epilepsy care. All work in concert with neuropsychologists, neuroradiologists, dietitians, epilepsy nurses and more."

Andrew Jea, M.D., MHA, FACS, FAAP, OU Health's vice-chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery, said a comprehensive pediatric epilepsy program requires singular specialists, state-of-the-art technology, and close partnerships with referring physicians. "At Oklahoma Children's Hospital, we've taken it to another level - the highest level. This effort has earned the pediatric epilepsy program accreditation as a Level 4 Program as designated by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers, and we couldn't be more proud. We serve as a tertiary and quaternary referral center for patients with epilepsy within our state, region, and beyond. From the pediatric neurosurgery perspective, it means that we are ready and able to provide advanced epilepsy surgery services to children of all ages. There is no need for a child in Oklahoma to ever leave the state for world-class epilepsy care."

Andrew Conner, M.D., OU Health neurosurgeon, cited the adult epilepsy surgery program at OU Health, which offers comprehensive evaluation and surgical treatment for patients suffering from medically intractable epilepsy. "Our team of specialists is committed to providing excellent patient-focused care in the state of Oklahoma. We offer the entire breadth of epilepsy surgical options - right here at home. In addition, our research efforts are truly cutting-edge, focused on reshaping the entire field of epilepsy evaluation and surgical management with the patient at the very heart of our work."

Herren said NAEC designation is important to patients as an indicator of the most comprehensive services and advanced treatment options, which are unavailable anywhere else in the state. The OU Health Epilepsy Center offers surgical procedures to treat adults and children with epilepsy as well as managing ketogenic diet and other dietary therapies in the treatment of epilepsy.

"I very much appreciate the support shown by colleagues and staff members who have contributed to this achievement," Herren said. "We look forward to the growth and expansion of our program as we continue to provide the highest level of care to patients in Oklahoma and the surrounding area as a Level 4 epilepsy center."

NAEC is a non-profit association founded in 1987 by physicians committed to setting a national agenda for quality epilepsy care. Its mission is to support epilepsy centers in delivering quality, comprehensive care to people with epilepsy by establishing standards of care, advocating for access to high-quality epilepsy center services, and providing knowledge and resources to its member centers.