AKRON – Cleveland Clinic Akron General opened a new four-bed adult epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) to deliver state-of-the-art evaluation, diagnosis and monitoring of patients with epilepsy.

The facility features the most advanced all-digital video EEG (electroencephalography) equipment available. Operating around the clock, the unit is staffed by a team of nurses, EEG technologists specializing in epilepsy and world-renowned epileptologists (board-certified neurologists with subspecialty training in epilepsy) from the Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center, including Imad Najm, M.D., director of Cleveland Clinic’s Epilepsy Center. The team also includes specialists in neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, nuclear medicine, psychology and psychiatry, as well as a large group of specialized nurses, social workers and clinical technologists.

“We are excited to expand our epilepsy services to Akron General and the surrounding communities,” said Najm.

The new unit is connected to Cleveland Clinic’s Central Monitoring Unit (CMU), one of the first in the world to serve as a live control center with EEG monitoring capability 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If a patient suffers a seizure, it will be immediately detected in the CMU and reported live to the nursing staff and clinical providers for a timely management of the patient.

Epilepsy is a neurological condition involving the brain that makes people more susceptible to having recurrent, unprovoked seizures. It is one of the most common disorders of the nervous system and affects people of all ages, races and ethnic backgrounds.

For more information on Akron General’s new EMU and outpatient epilepsy clinic, call 330-344-3100 or visit clevelandclinic.org/epilepsycenter.