Abstracts

Rationale: In spite of recent advancement of antiepileptic drugs and surgical management as well as increased spending cost for epilepsy care, the remission rate of epilepsy has not well improved including in Japan. One of the reasons for this disappointing status is suggested as poorly developed coordination system between primary care clinic and epilepsy center. Establishment of the framework of seamless cooperation among the regional care system for epilepsy is an urgent priority. Although there were numerous tasks to be tackled, the first issue to address was to define epilepsy center well matched to the Japanese care program. The aim is to exhibit the definition and indicate the criteria of regional epilepsy center in Japan. Methods: Japan Epilepsy Society (JES) developed the review committee of specialized medical service for epilepsy, and started to discuss on the issue of the definition and criteria of regional epilepsy center from March 2018. Results: The final version had been submitted and was scheduled to be approved on July, 2019. The last version is shown as follows: Definition: The regional epilepsy center is defined as specialized and comprehensively organized medical service system for epilepsy, having well-cooperated relationships with regional medical institutions and related facilities. This is a medical system for patients and their family to conquer epilepsy and achieve physically, mentally and socially fulfilling happiness. Criteria: 1) Epilepsy training facility certified by JES. 2) Full-time certified specialists in the fields of psychiatry, neurology, neurosurgery and child neurology, all of those who should be specialists certified by JES or students taking educational courses by JES 3)Diagnostic evaluation on the long-term video-EEG monitoring (50 cases or more per a year) 4) Diagnostic evaluation on MRI system 5) Comprehensive management committee composed of multi-disciplinary epilepsy team 6) Epilepsy case conference held by the specialists at least once a month. 7) Providing all following constant medical services for epilepsy; a) epilepsy surgery, b) in-hospital management for status epilepticus, c) diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy-related psychiatric comorbidities, d) management of intractable epilepsy in specific chronic pediatric diseases and intractable disorders. Conclusions: The establishment of regional epilepsy center may be a first step to make a leap forward to the development of the epilepsy care coordination system in Japan. Funding: No funding