This is just a quick diary to let the community know that the Institute of Medicine has now released their new report on "Epilepsy Across the Spectrum: Promoting Health and Understanding". The live webcast of the committee just concluded, but I suspect they will continue to host the webcast.
This is a long awaited report and you can download the free PDF at the IOM website. Those of you with epilepsy, who study epilepsy, and/or love somebody with epilepsy will no doubt find the IOM report to of interest and relevant. The rationale for the report is probably best summarized by the IOM itself from their website:
Although epilepsy is one of the nation’s most common neurological disorders, public understanding of it is limited. Many people do not know the causes of epilepsy or what they should do if they see someone having a seizure. Epilepsy is a complex spectrum of disorders that affects an estimated 2.2 million Americans in a variety of ways, and is characterized by unpredictable seizures that differ in type, cause, and severity. Yet living with epilepsy is about much more than just seizures; the disorder is often defined in practical terms, such as challenges in school, uncertainties about social situations and employment, limitations on driving, and questions about independent living.
The IOM was asked to examine the public health dimensions of the epilepsies, focusing on public health surveillance and data collection; population and public health research; health policy, health care, and human services; and education for people with the disorder and their families, health care providers, and the public. The IOM makes recommendations ranging from the expansion of collaborative epilepsy surveillance efforts, to the coordination of public awareness efforts, to the engagement of people with epilepsy and their families in education, dissemination, and advocacy for improved care and services. Taking action across multiple dimensions will improve the lives of people with epilepsy and their families. The realistic, feasible, and action-oriented recommendations in this report can help enable short- and long-term improvements for people with epilepsy.
As a member of the research community and friend to many with epilepsy, I am very excited about the report. It outlines many strategic initiatives to help those with epilepsy and those at risk for developing it. I will try to write a couple of more diaries once I have finished reading it!