South Texas Epilepsy Clinics in Laredo on March 21
Laredo residents age 10 and older who have seizures can be seen by an epilepsy specialist as part of the new South Texas Epilepsy Clinics, which are overseen by the Epilepsy Foundation Central & South Texas and UT Medicine San Antonio, which is the clinical practice of the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The clinics are funded by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
Octavian Lie, M.D., Ph.D., a board certified neurologist with UT Medicine San Antonio and an assistant professor of neurology at the UT Health Science Center, will see patients every other month in Laredo.
“We are excited to be able to treat people with epilepsy in Laredo. To this end, we appreciate a close partnership with the community. We hope to respond promptly to the needs of our patients and reduce their burdens of living with epilepsy,” Dr. Lie said.
The first clinic will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, March 21, at Mercy Ministries of Laredo, 2500 Zacatecas St. Appointments are required. Please call 210-450-9700 to make an appointment and for more information. The clinic is for individuals who have Medicaid or are uninsured; residents with insurance also are welcome. Spanish speakers will be available.
The outreach clinics will include an epilepsy specialist physician, a case manager, social worker and a medical assistant. While Dr. Lie provides diagnosis, treatment and medication management, the Epilepsy Foundation Central & South Texas provides information, direct assistance, social services, referrals, employment preparation and many more services to those diagnosed with epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a lifelong medical condition that is best treated in an outpatient clinic by physicians, like Dr. Lie, who have specialized training in epilepsy. Without access to specialty care, patients have poor seizure control and are unable to drive, have difficulty holding jobs, and are at-risk for seizure-related sudden death.
The neurologists at UT Medicine are part of the South Texas Comprehensive Epilepsy Center in San Antonio, which is nationally accredited for the treatment of epilepsy. The center is a partnership between UT Medicine and University Health System. The center received a Level 4 designation, which is the highest designation from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers.
UT Medicine San Antonio is the clinical practice of the School of Medicine at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio. With more than 700 doctors – all School of Medicine faculty – UT Medicine is the largest medical practice in Central and South Texas. Expertise is in more than 100 medical specialties and subspecialties. Primary care doctors and specialists see patients in private practice at UT Medicine’s flagship clinical home, the Medical Arts & Research Center (MARC), located at 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio 78229. Most major health plans are accepted, and UT Medicine physicians also practice at several local and regional hospitals. Call (210) 450-9000 to schedule an appointment, or visit www.UTMedicine.org for a list of clinics and phone numbers.