Kentucky Neuroscience Institute reaccredited as a level 4 epilepsy center by NAEC

The Kentucky Neuroscience Institute (KNI) at the University of Kentucky has gained reaccreditation from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) as a level 4 center. 

This is a three-year accreditation (2026-2028) given to the Adult Epilepsy Center and reflects the exceptional accomplishments and excellence of UK HealthCare’s epilepsy care. The epilepsy program at KNI has been continuously accredited for the past 10 years, since the NAEC established its formal accreditation program in 2016 (prior to that, designation was self-assigned).

What is the National Association of Epilepsy Centers? 

The NAEC is a nonprofit organization representing more than 325 specialized epilepsy centers across the United States. Its goal is to advance high-quality epilepsy care by implementing strict standards and a comprehensive accreditation program. 

NAEC also plays an active advocacy role, working to inform public and private insurers, policymakers and government leaders about the importance of ensuring patient access to specialized epilepsy services. 

Accreditation as a Level 4 Epilepsy Center ensures that patients have access to the most advanced monitoring, diagnostic testing, and treatment options for all types of epilepsy.

Epilepsy care in adults

Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder that manifests with seizures. Stroke, brain tumor, head injury, genetic disorders, brain infection and other neurologic conditions may contribute to epilepsy in individuals. 

For a subset of individuals with epilepsy, no clear cause can be determined, making a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary team essential. 

UK HealthCare’s Epilepsy Program offers top notch monitoring technologies like specialized brain imaging, functioning MRIs, in-depth brain testing and brain mapping that helps medical professional get to the root of the cause of epilepsy. Epilepsy monitoring units use video-electroencephalogram (video-EEG) testing to help identify seizure types and better understand how the brain is involved in each patient’s seizures.

UK HealthCare’s clinicians, EEG technologists, nurses, monitor-watchers and staff bring unwavering dedication, tireless effort and commitment to excellence and patient safety. 

“Achieving and maintaining the highest NAEC accreditation reflects the extraordinary dedication of our entire epilepsy team,” said Dr. Meriem Bensalem-Owen, medical director of UK HealthCare’s epilepsy program “This recognition represents far more than meeting rigorous national standards—it reflects our shared commitment to providing the highest level of comprehensive, patient-centered epilepsy care for our community every day.”

Treatments at UK HealthCare

UK HealthCare’s Epilepsy Center offers patients a wide range of care and treatment options, including: 

• New anti-seizure medications (ASMs)
• Epilepsy surgery
• Innovative therapies such as neurostimulation treatments (VNS, RNS, and DBS) 
• Ketogenic diet

Some patients are followed long-term in the Epilepsy Clinic and most return to their primary neurologist for ongoing care. Neuropsychology evaluations and neurosurgical evaluations are available. 

Other services include diagnostic testing, specialized imaging techniques and the latest treatments for the management of all forms of epilepsy. UK HealthCare provides outpatient services as well as inpatient care with the latest diagnostic monitoring equipment, including:

• Specialized MRI procedures
• fMRI
• Intra carotid sodium amytal procedures (WADA tests)
• Ictal and inter-ictal SPECT studies and PET studies
• Intra-operative mapping with awake craniotomy
• Extra-operative brain mapping
• Stereo-EEG

New referrals, established patients and individuals enrolled in clinical trials are all seen in the epilepsy clinic.