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THE QUEEN’S MEDICAL CENTER
EPILEPSY MONITORING UNIT (EMU) PATIENT INFORMATION
Aloha!
We welcome you to the Queen’s Medical Center Long-Term Epilepsy Monitoring Unit.
The following information will help you prepare for your stay with us.
Admission
On the day you come into the hospital, go directly to the admitting office on the first floor.
Please park in the Miller Street parking lot on the Ewa (west) end of the campus. Parking
stickers are discounted for families and visitors and can be obtained from the admitting
office. Please bring all insurance cards with you.
The date and time of your admission is: __________________________________
Checklist of Items to Bring
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Insurance Cards
All medicines you take in prescription bottles
One week supply of clothes and undergarments (shirts must be able to open from front)
Books, puzzles, games, movies (VHS tapes), magazines
Personal care items
Any head xrays you have from other hospitals
The Monitoring Procedure
Your doctors have decided that a video-EEG test in the QMC Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU)
is the best way for them to learn more about the nature of your seizures and determine how to
most effectively treat your condition.
A video-EEG is a more specialized form of an EEG test in which an EEG, a camera and
microphones monitor you 24 hours a day. Continuous EEG monitoring allows the doctors to
observe your brainwave activity at the same time that a seizure or a spell is occurring. By
recording your seizures on video, we can also see exactly what happens during one of your
seizures. This is usually more accurate than any reports you or a family member can give us
about your seizures.
The video-EEG equipment is very specialized and not available at most hospitals. Our doctors
have advanced training in EEG interpretation and epilepsy treatment. There is no alternative to
this type of testing that can give the same information to your doctors.
You will have EEG electrodes applied to your scalp with special glue. Please let the medical
team know right away if you have any allergies. These electrodes are connected to a video-EEG
monitor and will remain in place 24 hours a day during your entire admission. We will also
place a capped intravenous (IV) line in one of your veins. This is for your safety. If you have a
lot of seizures, or a very strong one, we can rapidly give you medicine in the IV line to stop the
seizures.
What to expect during your stay on the EMU
The video-EEG test usually requires a 5-7 day stay in the hospital. When you arrive on the EMU
you will be asked questions about your past medical history and your seizures. Be sure to tell the
medical team about the type of seizures you have and any injuries you have had due to your
seizures.
Because you are monitored by the EEG and the video 24 hours a day, there is some loss of
privacy. You will, however, have some privacy while in the bathroom. You will not be able to
shower or wash your hair, but will be able to take a daily sponge bath.
Your antiepileptic medicines may be decreased or stopped while you are in the hospital. We do
this to try to bring on seizures. We may use bright lights or deprive you of sleep if you need
additional help in bringing on a seizure. Your doctor will talk to you more if this is needed.
In order to reduce the risks of injury during a seizure, we will ask that you wear a safety belt at all
times while in bed or in the chair. You will have a key to open the belt anytime you wish. When
you are in your bed, the side rails must be up and you will need to call for assistance before
getting out of bed. A few people may need to have their hands temporarily restrained to keep
them from pulling on the EEG wires during a seizure.
There are two buttons at the side of your bed. One is a nurse call button and the other is called an
event button. If you have any warnings about your seizures, please push the event button. If a
friend or family member is with you, he/she can also push the button or the staff can do so when
they detect a seizure. When you have a seizure, a staff member will enter the room to closely
observe your event and do some testing. We will do everything possible to prevent injury during
seizures.
Every day your doctor will visit and update you on your progress. We will discuss what
information we have gathered so far and let you know what to expect next. Once the test is
completed, the electrodes will be removed with a chemical that dissolves the glue. You will be
able to go home unless given other instructions from your doctor. A follow-up appointment with
your doctor will be scheduled at the time of your discharge from the hospital. Your doctor will
receive a written report of all your tests shortly after your discharge. The report will include
recommendations for care of your seizure disorder. Your doctor will discuss the results and
recommendations with you at your follow-up appointment.
The video-EEG test is usually very safe. You will not experience any more pain or discomfort
than with a regular EEG. However, as with any procedure there can be risks or side effects. The
primary risk is the seizures themselves; however because you are being monitored, hospital staff
are available to immediately provide medications through your IV line if needed. Injury from
falls due to seizures may happen at the hospital just as they could in your home. Wearing your
safety belt, using the side rails while in bed and asking for assistance when getting out of bed will
reduce these risks. Since your medications may have been decreased or stopped, you may find
that your seizures are stronger or last longer than they normally do. You may also experience
some side effects when your medications are stopped, such as feeling nervous, sleepless, shaky or
dizzy. The glue that is used to attach the electrodes may cause red spots and/or itching. In some
cases these red patches can stay for days or weeks and cause small lost patches of hair or a scar.
You may also experience some side effects when you restart your antiepileptic medicines like
you had when you first started the medications.
Preparing for the EMU
Medications
Please bring all your medications with you to the unit. The nursing staff will give your medications
to you during your stay. Your doctor may stop your seizure medications while you are in the
hospital. Do not stop your medications until your doctor tells you to. You will usually stay on your
other medications.
Hair Preparation
Please wash your hair twice with an anti-dandruff shampoo before admission. This will reduce the
itching from the glue used to secure the electrodes to your head. Do NOT use any cream rinse,
hair spray, mousse, gels, or other hair treatment products after washing your hair. Dry your hair
completely and bring your own shampoo, hairbrush or comb with you to use on the day you go
home.
X-Rays
If you have had X-Rays of your head done at any other facility besides Queen’s, please bring
copies with you to the hospital.
Belongings
Please bring your own personal items. Leave your jewelry, money and valuables at home. For
safety reasons, you will not be allowed to wear headphones or chew gum during your stay. Bring
items such as books, puzzles, games, movies (DVD or VHS tapes), or magazines to pass the time. Battery
only items (i.e. CD player, computer, etc.) may be used.
Clothing
You may wear what is comfortable for you. We suggest you bring a one week supply of shirts that
open from the front (no pull over tops), sweat pants and/or shorts and underclothing. Hospital
gowns and shorts are also available.
Smoking Policy
The Queen’s Medical Center is a non-smoking environment. You will not be allowed to smoke
while being monitored. The doctor can prescribe a nicotine patch to help you through the hospital
stay and/or you can speak to our Smoking Cessation Coordinator.
Insurance
Your admission is not scheduled until we obtain approval from your insurance company. It is
possible you may have to pay some costs. To determine what your portion of the costs may be
please contact the Financial Services Department at 547-4210 and have your insurance information
and ID # ready when you call. You will also need to provide the service for the procedure (CPT
code) which is 95951 with a maximum of 7 days.
Visiting Hours
Family members are strongly encouraged to spend as much time as they wish with you, including
overnight stays. A bed is provided. Meals for family members are not provided, however. Please
plan accordingly.
Conclusion
The nurses, EEG staff, and your physicians are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Even though we know that the monitoring experience can be stressful, we want your stay to be as
pleasant as possible. Please do not hesitate to ask any of us if we can be of any assistance to
you at any time. Here is how to contact us if you have further questions:
Queen’s Outpatient Center, Epilepsy Clinic
EMU Medical Director: Alan Stein, MD
Nurse Coordinator: Natalie Morgan-Romain R.N.
585-5494
585-5494
537-7300