Plan Your Visit

Once your appointment has been scheduled, we will strive to provide you or your child the very best of care. In preparing for your visit keep the following points in mind:

• Arrive a few minutes before your scheduled appointment time to complete registration process.
• Please bring your identification, insurance card and copay.
• If primary caregiver/legal guardian is unable to attend appointment please send a letter along with a good contact number so we may reach guardian/primary caregiver
• Bring your seizure journal/log
• Bring all medications in original container
• Medical records that we may not have (hospitalization records, recent laboratory studies, imaging studies)
• You can expect an in depth medical history exam, physical exam and possibly an EEG
• Your appointment may last several hours. Please bring snacks, drinks, formula and items to entertain your child.
• Our Epilepsy Clinic is a component of the UAB School of Medicine. Your child may be seen by medical students and other physicians in training.

Preparing your child for admission and VEEG

• Please wash your child's hair before admission
• Please wash your child's hair before admission
• Please do not use any cream rinse, oil, hair spray or barrettes
• No braids, ponytails or hair extensions
• No chewing gum during admission
• Your child may wear his/her own clothes; preferably a button front shirt that may be easily removed
• Please explain to your child that they will not be able to leave their room unless approved by the physician. This is very unlikely because we are video monitoring for seizure activity.

What to expect and bring with you to your EMU admission

• Please bring your identification, insurance and co pay
• If primary caregiver/legal guardian is unable attend please send a letter along with a good contact number so we may reach guardian/primary caregiver
• Your child will be “hooked up” to electrodes for the EEG
• Please be aware that your child/patient room is being monitored at all times through EEG and camera
• We ask that you do not cover your child with a sheet or blanket as we are monitoring/studying body movements. You may turn up the heat in the room to combat being cold.
• Please bring your seizure journal/log
• Please bring all medications in their ORIGINAL container, not your pill box dispenser, that your child is taking. Please do not give any home medications unless instructed to do so.
• Please bring school work and reading material appropriate for your child
• You will be asked to press a button each time you think your child is having any seizure activity
• If your child does have a seizure a nurse and a EEG technician will come into your room and begin assessing and asking your child some questions. Please try to keep talking to a minimum during this time and be mindful of the cameras as we learn a lot through this process.
• Please bring activities that will entertain your child for long periods of time
• Your child may get an IV and/or have lab work drawn
• Please be prepared to provide your own meals. No meal vouchers are provided for planned admissions. You can prepay for your meals and have them delivered to your room and/or use our cafeteria and market.