Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Opens Michigan’s First Wireless Epilepsy Monitoring Unit

August 7, 2019

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., August 7, 2019 – Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital is proud to open Michigan’s first dedicated wireless epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU), offering world-class care and the most advanced technology for children experiencing seizures. The unit, funded through generous philanthropic support from the Steve and Amy Van Andel family and other donors, officially opened today and is one of only a few in operation across the nation.

“One of the most exciting changes in the new epilepsy monitoring unit is the integration of digital wireless monitoring,” says Dr. Angel Hernandez, division chief for pediatric neurosciences at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. “This new technology offers patients the ability to move freely in their rooms, unit and playroom during their testing, which can last from 24 hours to several days.”

This new technology in the EMU allows the patient to be carefully monitored by a dedicated team of pediatric-trained epileptologists, nurses and monitoring EEG technicians throughout their entire stay at the hospital. Patients also will now be able to be monitored within the redesigned 6^th floor playroom, giving children, families and caregivers a place to interact and play normally while advanced neurodiagnostic testing is taking place.

Monitoring studies provide a detailed analysis of brain activity and allow epilepsy experts to see details that can lead to a better understanding of the patient’s condition and the most effective treatment plan.

The EMU is part of Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Neurosciences Center and further aligns the Level 4 epilepsy program with industry best practices of other leading neuroscience and epilepsy centers nationally.

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital is a 234-bed regional referral center and teaching hospital that also houses our pediatric neurocritical care unit, the only one of its kind in West Michigan. It offers advanced pediatric specialty care with more than 300 pediatric physicians who practice in more than 50 pediatric specialties and programs. Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital is Michigan’s largest neonatal center. More information is available online.

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