The epilepsy centre

The Kempenhaeghe epilepsy centre provides highly specialised diagnoses, treatments and counselling to people with a (possible) form of (complex) epilepsy.

A multidisciplinary treatment of the patient is crucial for the approach of the expertise centre. This means that Kempenhaeghe approaches the patient not only from a medical-epileptological perspective but also explicitly takes the psychological and social factors into account which may play a role in epilepsy.

Patients who (seem to) have psychogenic non-epileptical seizures can also be referred to Kempenhaeghe for further diagnosis and treatment.

The care of the Kempenhaeghe epilepsy centre is included in the basic health insurance of all health insurers in the Netherlands.

Patients who visit one of the twelve outpatients clinics of Kempenhaeghe (for addresses, please see ‘Contact’ on this website). Sometimes admission into one of the clinics at Heeze or Oosterhout is required.

Furthermore, Kempenhaeghe offers several residential facilities and day care facilities for epileptic children and adults with a mental retardation. (AWBZ care [Exceptional Medical Expenses Act-care]).

Coretasks of Kempenhaeghe are, in addition to patient care, scientific research and transfer of knowledge to referrers. Kempenhaeghe works in this respect as the linchpin in many networks.

Referral and back-referral

A medical specialist usually refers a patient to the epilepsy centre of Kempenhaeghe. Family doctors may also refer patients.

Referral to an (outpatients’) clinic

Send the referral letter to:
Kempenhaeghe
Attn the secretariat of the outpatients’ clinic epilepsy centre
Post office box 61
5590 AB Heeze.

Or:
Kempenhaeghe,
Location Hans Berger Clinic
Attn the secretariat of the outpatients’ clinic epilepsy centre
Post office box 250
4900 AG OOSTERHOUT

We would appreciate it if you would include the following in the referral letter:

the complete personal details of the patient.
the reason to refer the patient
a description of his/her case history, possibly completed with the results of diagnostic examinations already performed

If you first want to consult a neurologist of the epilepsy centre about the referral of your patient, please contact us at T (040) 227 90 22 (Kempenhaeghe Heeze) or T (0162) 481 800 (Kempenhaeghe, location Hans Berger Clinic Oosterhout). Then ask for the secretariat of the outpatients’ clinic epilepsy. Outside office hours or in case of an emergency, please ask for the epilepsy centre’s neurologist in attendance.

After receipt of the referral letter Kempenhaeghe will invite your patient for a first visit. After the first visit and the diagnostic examination Kempenhaeghe will inform you as referrer about the results and any required follow-up trajectory. As referrer the care for most of the patients at some point will be transferred back to you.

Referral to specialised residential care

For people with a complex form of epilepsy and additional mental and/or physical handicaps the sector Care & Services of the epilepsy centre of Kempenhaeghe offers a variety of residential housing and day-care activities. The mentally disabled care includes this care and these services and is therefore financed through the AWBZ [Exceptional Medical Expenses Act]. This means that this type of care requires an indication from the Needs Assessment Body (CIZ). This indication is issued in the form of a zorgzwaartepakket [care needs package] granted or in the form of a personal budget (PGB). Care with housing can only be provided as care in kind (ZIN) based on a granted care needs package. Care without housing can be financed with a personal budget.

When the indication has been granted the Head of the Treatment Sector of the Care & Services Sector and/or other counsellors consult with the representatives of the prospective resident which type of housing and/or day-care activities will be best suited to the patient. The personal wishes of the prospective resident and the representative will be taken into consideration as well as the information on the epilepsy, the severity of the seizures, the treatment and the prognosis and additional complaints (mental, physical or sensory handicaps, behavioural disorders and mood disorders) of the prospective resident. The prospective resident may be placed on a waiting list. Placement depends on the vacancies available in the groups and the degree of urgency.

If you want to discuss a possible referral of your patient, please contact the secretariat of the Sector Care & Services of the epilepsy centre of Kempenhaeghe:
T (040) 227 94 08
E woonzorg@kempenhaeghe.nl.
Please ask for the Head of the Treatment Sector Care & Services.