Health Professionals from many backgrounds use the SUDEP & Seizure Safety Checklist as part of their care for people with epilepsy. The tool is designed to either help clinicians develop their epilepsy risk management or support and fit in with their exisiting clinical practice.
There is no set way for the Checklist to be used - it is meant to support clinicians in covering key aspects of epilepsy/SUDEP risks with their patients without being prescriptive; developing, fitting into and enhancing current pratice and structures in place.
It doesn't provide clinicians with a set pathway that will ensure their patients are safe; as ultimately effective epilepsy risk management requires an approach suited to individual patients' needs and the clinicians own style of care.
But we understand that this can seem a daunting task, when appointment time is short, lots of elements need to be discussed and on top of this you need to discuss with your patient, possibly for the first time, that there is a risk of death when living with epilepsy.
So below are case studies from UK clinicians using the Checklist in different ways:
CASE STUDIES
Using the Checklist in primary care
Dr Alistair Gales explores the learning and outcomes from applying the tool to his General Practice population in Cornwall.
Dr Rohit Shankar, a Consultant Neuropsychaitrist specialising in working with people with Learning Disabilities shows in this short video how he works through the Checklist with one of his patients.
Tips
- Risks are ordered in the Checklist to encourage a natural flow to communication, but clinicians can order questions to suit their style and circumstances.
- The aim of the Checklist is to promote individual discussion about risk factors, not to provide statistical estimates. A summary of overall risk is not possible.
- Many patients will be reassured when risks are low. However, low risk does not mean ZERO risk. Deaths are reported in those considered to have 'low risk'
- The Checklist lends itself to a variety of templates such as paper A4 sheets for individual reviews or a Microsoft Excel® spread sheet to monitor risk longitudinally. It has also been used with telehealth services. We have a range of templates available to suit your needs - just get in touch.