New diagnostic video tool for people with epilepsy and their clinicians

 

Our Policy & Campaigns Officer, Rona Johnson looks at a new patient and carer recorded video service for the diagnosis and management of epilepsy.

At Epilepsy Scotland, we regularly advise people to video their seizures.

As epilepsy can vary significantly from person to person, videos are an important tool for clinicians to help diagnose the condition and decide the best treatment option. It also helps track any changes in the types and lengths of seizures people are experiencing.

NHS Neurology Services across Scotland have started an exciting project called vCreateNeuro. It is a patient and carer recorded video service for the diagnosis and management of epilepsy.

Video

 

vCreateNeuro

vCreateNeuro is a web-based service which allows individuals and their carers to quickly and securely share videos they have recorded with their doctor or nurse. Videos are uploaded to a secure cloud and can only be accessed by the clinical team. The project has been funded, initially, for six months by the Scottish Government.

The implementation of this service was expedited due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Due to COVID19, the majority of face to face clinics have been cancelled.

This video service has allowed people to send useful information to their specialists about their epilepsy. It has meant clinicians can continue to offer high quality care for their patients despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

The service has been exceptionally successful since commencing in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde in May and is currently being implemented in three further health boards. Parents and carers share videos with their child’s clinician and often receive a quick response in return.

Looking ahead, vCreateNeuro could have a revolutionary impact on the way epilepsy, in both children and adults, is treated and diagnosed across Scotland.

This service will help accelerate diagnosis as clinicians have access to greater information ahead of the first face to face appointment and set up a quicker referral for an EEG.

Additionally, the video record will allow clinicians to track an individual’s condition. It will afford them the opportunity to quickly identify any changes in someone’s epilepsy. Also, it will enable them to make adjustments to their care before any serious events happen.

 

Epilepsy Scotland support

Epilepsy Scotland wrote a letter of support when the team were applying for funding from the Scottish Government. We have since attended an information session on the service and have learned exactly how it works.

We are excited as we believe it could improve support received by people with epilepsy from their clinicians. Also, we believe the benefits, to both clinicians and people with epilepsy, will go beyond the COVID19 pandemic. It will allow clinicians to better diagnose and manage epilepsy ensuring individuals receive the right care for them.

If you are interested in accessing this service, please contact your consultant or epilepsy specialist nurse.