Level 4 Epilepsy Center

Structural MRI showing the main sub-regions of the cerebral cortex

What Does A Level 4 Epilepsy Center Do?

Levels of epilepsy care were developed by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC). Level 4 epilepsy centers, such as the Epilepsy Center at UC San Diego, provide the highest level of care to people with epilepsy and other seizure disorders.

A level 4 epilepsy center provides:

• Complex forms of intensive neurodiagnostic monitoring
• Extensive medical, neuropsychological and psychosocial treatment
• Complete evaluation for epilepsy surgery, including intracranial electrodes
• Advanced surgical care for epilepsy

Advanced imaging at UC San Diego Epilepsy Center showing the corpus callosum beneath the cortex of the brain.

Referral guidelines for seizure disorders have been established by the NAEC. These guidelines are quoted directly from NAEC:

• If your seizures have not been brought under control after three months of care by a primary care provider (family physician, pediatrician), further neurologic intervention by a neurologist or an epilepsy center, if locally available, is appropriate.
• If you are seeing a general neurologist and your seizures have not been brought under control after 12 months, you should insist upon a referral to a specialized epilepsy center with an epileptologist.