04095 EMU Admission - Pediatric 7 Central
Document Description: A guide for families of our pediatric EMU including frequently asked questions and important phone numbers.
ADMISSION TO THE EPILEPSY MONITORING UNIT (EMU) FOR EEG MONITORING-7 CENTRAL
WHERE SHOULD I GO FOR THE ADMISSION?
UVA Medical Center is located at 1215 Lee Street in Charlottesville, VA. You will register on the first floor of the Primary Care Center and then you will go to the EEG lab on the ground floor of the Primary Care Center. The EEG lab is where EEG leads and wires will be placed on your head. After placement of the EEG leads onto your head, you will be guided either to the Admitting Office or directly to your hospital room. Even though your admission is scheduled, you may have to wait for a long time in the Admitting Office while your room is being prepared on “7 Central”, the central corridor on the 7th floor. Please make sure you will not miss your medication or meals during this time.
WHEN SHOULD I ARRIVE? IS THERE ANY PREPARATION TO BE DONE?
You should arrive at the EEG Lab at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time. Please wash your hair prior to your admission. Do not apply anything to your hair after washing it.
Please take all your regular daily medications as directed on the day of your admission. Please do not skip or delay your medications.
WILL I HAVE A PRIVATE ROOM IN THE HOSPITAL?
You will probably not have a private room.
WHAT ARE THE VISITING HOURS? CAN ANYONE STAY WITH ME?
Visiting hours are from 9am to 9pm. Only 2 visitors at a time are allowed to visit during the visiting hours. Only one adult is allowed to stay with you at night after visiting hours; no one else is allowed to stay with you at night. We will provide guest sleeping couches.
WILL MEALS BE PROVIDED FOR MY OVERNIGHT GUEST?
The hospital can provide a second meal tray for your guest at a cost. Guests are also able to bring food from home and store it in our patient refrigerator.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I CANNOT COME FOR THE ADMISSION?
If you cannot come in for your EMU Admission, please call the EMU Admissions Scheduler at 434-924-2706 as soon as possible. Admissions are scheduled weeks in advance so we appreciate advanced notice of cancellations to allow someone else who has been waiting to be admitted to be scheduled.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH ME?
Bring all your current medications in their original containers and copies of all previous medical records. Once your medications are reviewed, they will be placed in security for safekeeping and be given back to you upon discharge. While you are admitted, please do not take any of your own medications, and instead allow us to administer your medications.
All of your time will be spent in your hospital room. Bring something to occupy you, such as reading material, stitching, puzzles, art work, or a laptop computer (wireless internet access is available). A teacher will visit children in their rooms, so children should bring their homework with them. You will be allowed to wear your own clothes, so bring button up clothing that can fit over the wires that will be attached to you.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT TO HAPPEN WHILE I AM IN THE HOSPITAL?
You will be continuously monitored with video and EEG. The purpose of this admission is to capture your typical events and correlate them with your brain waves. We may try to provoke your events by decreasing your anti-seizure medication. Please tell us if you know of anything that can cause you to have an event. A staff member will not be able to remain with the patient at all times. However, a monitor watcher will watch you continuously and will alert the staff when you have an event. Your safety is our priority, and the staff is trained to take care of all seizure emergencies.
HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO STAY IN THE HOSPITAL?
The length of hospital stay depends on how often you have these events. The average length of stay is 3 days, but can be as long as one week. On the day of discharge, you can expect to leave the hospital by 11am. Please make transportation arrangements so you can depart by 11 a.m.
WHOM SHOULD I CONTACT IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
If you have scheduling and/or insurance questions, please call the EMU Admissions Scheduler at 434-924-2706.