Abstracts

To assess the referral patterns to a Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (CEC), we evaluated if our patients came from physician referrals or patient-oriented sources. We also studied the reason(s) they sought care from our CEC.
Epilepsy Center nurse clinicians interviewed 316 new patients during their first visit to our CEC. Information was gathered on referral source(s), and reason(s) for visit.
Referral Sources:
Physicians: 25% from primary care providers, 22% from neurologists, 4% from neurosurgeons, 4% from other types of physicians, 3% from the emergency room physicians, 1% from psychiatrists. Personal referrals: 9% family and friends, 8% HMO/insurance companies, 4% self- referral, 2% patient organizations. Outreach initiatives: 10% from outreach resources (Internet site, radio ads, and caregiver in-service education), 1% from physician referral services. Other: 7 % from other sources (i.e.: nursing homes, rehabilitation centers).
Reasons for Visits:
41% medical and surgical management, 22% second opinion, 16% differential diagnosis, 8% seizures not controlled (unspecified), 8% new onset epilepsy, 3% insurance considerations, 2% patient relocation.
1) Most patients at our CEC come from physician referrals (59%) although a significant minority (34%) come from personal referrals and outreach initiatives. 2) As expected, most patients at our tertiary care facility have medication-resistant epilepsy, rather than new onset epilepsy. We hope these data can be used to help plan future educational endeavors (physician and patient oriented) that make optimal care available to the largest number of people with epilepsy.