The USA Health Comprehensive Epilepsy Program (SouthCEP) has been accredited as a level four epilepsy center by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers for 2020 and 2021. The only other level four centers in Alabama are at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and at Children’s of Alabama.
Level four is the highest accreditation level awarded by the NAEC and indicates that the center has the professional expertise and facilities to provide the highest level of medical and surgical evaluation and treatment for patients with complex epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a disorder in which nerve cell activity in the brain is disturbed, causing seizures.
“Patients that require advanced care for epilepsy can be evaluated and treated here on the Gulf Coast,” says Dr. Juan Ochoa, director of SouthCEP and a professor of neurology in the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. “We are the only center with this level of sophistication in this area.”
Dr. Dean Naritoku, chair of neurology and professor of neurology and pharmacology at the USA College of Medicine, adds that the designation recognizes the ongoing work and services USA has been providing to patients for the last decade. “It acknowledges our advanced epilepsy evaluations, workups and brain surgery for epilepsy. Having this designation places us on a national registry of epilepsy centers for patients who are trying to locate these kinds of services.”
