It is essential to staff the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) with trained Neurodiagnostic professionals in seizure response testing in order to corroborate seizure semiology with ictal EEG changes. Timely and well performed ictal response testing is invaluable in guiding medical management and surgical planning. Few standardized ictal testing protocols exist for children undergoing continuous video EEG monitoring. The main limitations include lack of standardization, shortage in the workforce and insufficient training for EEG Technologists. The Epilepsy Team at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago identified and addressed the existing limitations from a technologist workforce shortage and implemented a standardized ictal response testing process along with staffing the unit 24/7. A 3-month retrospective review of 204 admitted patients to the EMU was completed and the average response times by clinical team members were collected for push button events seizure types, and electrographic changes without push button events.
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