There are support teams across the Ottawa area working to provide programs and services for people with epilepsy or who know someone with epilepsy. Below are descriptions of the various programs offered.
Adult program: The Ottawa Hospital
The adult program’s activities are currently organized through The Ottawa Hospital, it operates as a district epilepsy center according to the Ontario Epilepsy strategy. The program provides access to specialized epilepsy care, as well as neurodiagnostic evaluations, neuropsychological services, and noninvasive evaluations for epilepsy surgeries.
Patients who need surgical care for their epilepsy are referred to the regional epilepsy surgical centers in either Toronto, ON or London, ON. All appointments for the Adult Program require a physicians referral.
For more information on the adult program’s activities, please refer to the contact us page here.
Pediatric program: Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
The pediatric program’s activities are primarily conducted through the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). CHEO is a global leader in pediatric health care and research and it currently operates as a district epilepsy center, in line with the Ontario Epilepsy Strategy. It has a functioning 2 bed epilepsy monitoring unit where patients’ epilepsy can be assessed and characterized.
The program currently provides access to specialized epilepsy care, as well as neurodiagnostic evaluations, neuropsychological services, and noninvasive evaluations for epilepsy surgeries. Additionally, it has intensive monitoring capabilities for critically ill patients.
Patients who need surgical care for their epilepsy are referred to the regional epilepsy surgical center in Toronto, ON at Sick Kids Hospital.
- For more information on CHEO visit: https://www.cheo.on.ca/en/index.aspx
- For more information on the CHEO neurology and epilepsy clinics visit: https://www.cheo.on.ca/en/clinics-services-programs/neurology-clinic.aspx
- For more information on neurodiagnostic testing at CHEO visit: https://www.cheo.on.ca/en/clinics-services-programs/neurophysiology-lab.aspx
Transition program
Young patients with epilepsy can be overwhelmed when they are required to leave the family centered approach of a children’s hospital to transfer to a more patient centered approach of an adult hospital. The challenges can be daunting and if improperly executed such a transfer can lead to fragmented care and a distrust of the patient’s new adult healthcare providers.
Fortunately, our adult and pediatric programs organize the transfer of young adults with epilepsy in a coordinated and complementary fashion. CHEO has a fully integrated transition program to help their patients acquire the necessary skills to become independent and experts at managing their disorder over time.
When the time comes to transfer over to the adult side, the adult providers will have already reviewed the pediatric medical chart from CHEO and devised a plan to help manage their seizures ahead of their first meeting, ensuring a positive experience for all involved.
All physicians in the adult hospital are credentialed at CHEO and can access the pediatric medical chart at any time.
For more information and resources on the transition process at CHEO, visit:
For additional information, these sites may be of interest:
Community program: Epilepsy Ottawa
Healthcare professionals can help people by treating their seizures, but their livelihood and happiness requires a more comprehensive approach and coordinated care in the community in which they live. Epilepsy Ottawa is a not-for-profit charity dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with epilepsy through support, education, advocacy, and on-going public awareness.
Since 1977, Epilepsy Ottawa has provided a range of programs, services, information, and support for people living with epilepsy and their loved ones. The agency is now positioned at the forefront of community care for people epilepsy with evidence-based programs such as the innovative Clinic to Community (C2C).
Clinic to Community is an epilepsy education program to help people with epilepsy and their families better understand the condition and seizure management, how to identify when a seizure is a medical emergency, treatment options, and how to cope with the unpredictability of seizures. Other Epilepsy Ottawa services include a peer mentor program, Seizure Smart presentations, working with educators and employers to ensure full inclusion of people with epilepsy at school and work, and facilitating an epilepsy community through support groups, social activities, and community events. In addition, Epilepsy Ottawa provides a range of resources to assist people with epilepsy and their families looking to access financial supports, manage depression and anxiety, better prepare for medical appointments, advocate for themselves at work or their child at school, learn how live well with epilepsy, and more.
For direct access to their programs please visit: www.epilepsyottawa.ca