The admission process begins with an outpatient clinic visit to one of our epileptologists or neurologists.

This physician will determine if admission to the EMU is needed to define whether your events are due to epilepsy or other causes. If admission is needed, you will be notified of your admission date well in advance by your physician’s office.

If you are not given a check-in time in advance, you will receive a phone call the morning of admission telling you when to arrive.

Check in at admissions on the first floor of Duke University Hospital. You will be shown to your room or escorted to the Epilepsy Control Room by an EEG technologist.

Upon admission, you will have electrodes applied to your head using glue.

The electrodes will remain on your head throughout your stay in the EMU. You will also have two electrodes applied to your chest that will serve as electrocardiography (EKG) tracings on your EEG record.

Once you are in your EMU room, you will have more EKG electrodes applied to your chest for central cardiac monitoring information during your seizures.

When you reach your room, you will meet your care nurse, who will fill out an admission history, including your past and present medical history and current medications and supplements. You will also meet the physician team members, who will perform a thorough medical examination and medical history.

The physician team works with the staff epileptologist to assure that the proper medications are ordered during your stay.

Your anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) will likely be decreased or discontinued until data-gathering is complete. You will be informed daily of your medication changes. An IV line will be placed in case rescue medications are needed.