Epilepsy community welcomes IOM's new landmark study report

Mar 31 2012

Responding to today's release of the Institute of Medicine 's (IOM) new report on the public health dimensions of the epilepsies, a cooperative group of professional and consumer organizations with special interest in epilepsy has issued the following joint statement.

We welcome the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) new landmark study report on the public health dimensions of the epilepsies and enthusiastically embrace its recommendations. The report, Epilepsy across the Spectrum: Promoting Health and Understanding, contains IOM's review committee findings and recommendations in areas of surveillance, prevention, health care and human services, and education of health care provid ers, people who have epilepsy, their families and the public. A full-scale evaluation of the health system response to epilepsy such as this has been long overdue.

Access to high-quality, patient-oriented care is critical for the health and wellbeing of between two and three million individuals in this country who have epilepsy and face reduced social and economic opportunity, increased risk of injury and death, and persistent stigma. The IOM study has found substantial gaps for individuals in accessing quality health care and community services, deficiencies that need urgent and aggressive attention. More data is needed to better identify problems and improve access to healthcare and community services that recognize complexities and comorbidities associated with epilepsy. Expanding knowledge is universally needed and will require greater education of healthcare providers, patients, and the public.

We commend the study committee for the specificity of its recommendations. These recommendations recognize the strengths of our member organizations and attributes they offer toward implementation. We accept the challenges laid out in this report and will work together to improve the quality and coordination of health care services.

To carry out the report's recommendations a strong partnership with government entities is crucial. We call on the leadership of our federal and state agencies and legislative bodies to develop and support programs that will aid and compliment our work.

We thank the IOM, its staff, and the distinguished experts on the ad hoc committee on the public health dimensions of the epilepsies for their dedication and hard work, and for sending a clear message that epilepsy is a serious national health problem in urgent need of attention and focus.

American Epilepsy Society (AES)
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
Anita Kaufman Foundation
Brain Recovery Project
Child Neurology Foundation
Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE)
Danny Did Foundation
Dravet.org
Dup 15q Alliance
Epilepsy Foundation
Epilepsy Therapy Project (ETP/epilepsy.com)
Finding a Cure Against Epilepsy and Seizures (FACES)
Hemispherectomy Foundation
HIV-6 Foundation
Hope for Hypothalamic Hamartomas (HH)
International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE)
Intractable Childhood Epilepsy (ICE) Alliance
Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) Foundation
My Epilepsy Story
National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC)
Parents Against Childhood Epilepsy (PACE)
Preventing Teen Tragedy (PTT)
Rasmussen's Encephalitis (RE) Children's Project
Seizure Tracker
Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance (TSA)