Saint Francis Hospital Leading the Way in Point-of-Care EEG Brain Monitoring

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Saint Francis Hospital physicians are leading the way in ensuring optimal care for critically ill patients at high risk for seizures. Led by Veeresh Kumar, M.D., Vice Chair, Department of Neurology and Medical Director of Epilepsy Center, the clinical team at the Center for Brain Health at Saint Francis have performed more studies with the Ceribell Point-of-Care Electroencephalogram (EEG) Brain Monitoring program than any other hospital in the United States, with over 2,000 completed studies.

The Ceribell Point-of Care EEG system is the first of its kind and provides a vital sign for brain function. Critically ill patients are at high risk of seizures, with many experiencing a type of “silent seizure,” which is non-convulsive with no noticeable symptoms and can only be detected using EEG. If prolonged, non-convulsive seizures can lead to permanent brain injury, higher risk of morbidity and mortality, and longer hospital stays. Using the Ceribell system, the team at Saint Francis has immediate access to EEG information so at-risk patients can be triaged in a timely manner and monitored for treatment optimization.

“We are so proud to be able to offer this type of technology to our patients,” said Dr. Kumar, who leads the Center for Brain Health at Saint Francis. “This state-of-the-art equipment provides precise and accurate information, allowing the care team to be able to determine the most appropriate course of treatment for patients in some of their most vulnerable moments. We are proud to have positively impacted the lives of thousands of patients and look forward to serving more patients in our community.”

“Saint Francis is committed to providing our patients with transformative, healing, high-quality care, and the Ceribell system is a perfect example of that commitment,” said Thomas Burke, BPharm, MBA, President of Saint Francis Hospital. “Dr. Kumar and the team at the Center for Brain Health are paving the way for advanced neurological care in the greater Hartford region and I am grateful for their dedication to our Mission.”

The Ceribell Point-of-Care EEG Brain Monitoring system was developed to address limitations in EEG acquisition and interpretation so patients at risk of seizure can be triaged more quickly. The device consists of a simple headband, pocket-sized recorder with intuitive software, and an online portal for remote viewing. Using the Ceribell system, physicians can review EEG data, assess response to treatment, and optimize care, all in real time.

“Ceribell founders saw that critically ill patients often experience undiagnosed non-convulsive seizure as a result of lack of access to EEG,” said Jane Chao, PhD, Co-founder and CEO of Ceribell. “Some suffered major neurological deficits while others simply didn’t make it. It is our mission to ensure no patients suffer unnecessary brain injury as a result of not having prompt EEG. We are excited to see visionary health practitioners at Saint Francis Hospital adopting the technology and transforming their EEG capability.”

Trinity Health Of New England neurologists also utilize the Ceribell system at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury and are expanding the service to Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, allowing even more patients access to this technology. For more information on neurology services at Trinity Health Of New England, please visit trinityhealthofne.org/neurology.