This page describes outpatient services available at the Regional Epilepsy Center at Harborview and answers patients' most frequently asked questions. If you have a question that isn't answered here, please ask one of our staff or call (206) 744-3576 or 1-800-EPI-DOCS (1-800-374-3627)
For life-threatening medical emergencies, call 911.
For after-hours care, call the Community Care Line at (206)744-2500.
Services
Our staff specializes in epilepsy and understands how it can affect your life. Our neurologists, psychologists, social workers, EEG technologists, and administrative support staff provide or can arrange the following services for you:
GETTING PRESCRIPTIONS REFILLED
All of our neurologists have regular morning or afternoon clinics for the convenience of our patients. Office staff can assist in clinic appointments, prescription refills, vocational counseling, and questions concerning your care. You can contact staff directly at (206) 744-3576. If you live outside of Seattle, call 1-800-EPI-DOCS (1-800-374-3627). Here is a brief description of what each person can help you with:
Outpatient Social Worker - The social worker provides short-term counseling and referral services. This staff member can help you with disability application forms, reports for Social Security or DSHS and referrals to community resources and vocation counseling. The social worker's phone number is (206) 744-3807.
Patient Services Rep - The PSR can assist you in scheduling tests such as EEGs, MRIs, PET or SPECT scans or neuropsychological testing. The PSR can also help you with referral authorizations and with admission to the Epilepsy Long Term Monitoring Unit. Call (206) 744-3576 to speak with the Patient Services Rep.
Registered Nurse - The Epilepsy RN helps with medication refills and answers questions you may have taking medications or other seizure related concerns. Call (206) 744-3576.
Patient Financial Advocate - The Patient Financial Advocate is available to assist patients with questions or concerns regarding medical insurance issues, applying for disability benefit programs, Medicare and Medicaid, and patient billing problems or other financial concerns. Call (206) 731-3576.
Vocational Counselors - If you are having trouble finding or keeping a job, our vocational counselors can help. The Vocational Services Center is located at 326 Ninth Avenue on the fifth floor of Harborview Hall (directly across from the hospital). Services are free to epilepsy patients. Orientation meetings are held on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. For more information call (206) 341-4545.
The Epilepsy Clinic is located on the fourth floor of the West Clinic Wing at Harborview Medical Center (4 West Clinic). This is where you will be seen by your doctor and schedule future appointments. (See map)
The Regional Epilepsy Center Office is located on the third floor of the East Hospital Wing (3 East Hospital). Come to this office when you need to schedule tests, meet with the social worker, or talk with the patient financial advocate. The office is open on Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If the phone lines are busy, the answering machine will allow you to leave a message so we can call you back. We check for messages frequently during normal business hours. Messages left after hours or on the weekends and holidays will not be heard until the next morning that the office is open.
About your Health Insurance Coverage
Harborview participates in many health plans.
Information for Managed Care Patients - If you are enrolled in a managed health care plan, we encourage you to visit your primary care provider while you're in good health so he or she can be more familiar with your medical history and be prepared to meet any future medical needs.
Many managed care plans require that specialty services be authorized in advance by your primary care provider. Your primary care provider is responsible for deciding when a referral to a specialist is medically necessary, and will arrange for referral authorization before you see a specialist. Care you receive in the Epilepsy Clinic is a specialty service.
Unless you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, even urgent care must first be authorized by your primary care provider. If you are unsure if your illness or injury requires immediate attention, call our Community CareLine at (206) 744-2500.
At the end of your clinic appointment, your doctor will tell you when you should return for your next visit. The easiest way to make this appointment is to stop by the front desk on your way out.
To change or cancel an appointment or to make a new appointment, call the Epilepsy Center office at (206) 744-3576 or 1-800-EPI-DOCS (1-800-374-3627)
On the Day of Your Appointment
Check in at the Epilepsy Clinic check-in desk. They will direct you to the outpatient registration desk which is located to the left of the check-in desk.
- If you're a new patient, please arrive 30 minutes early. Be sure to bring your insurance and doctor's referral forms. We will register you in the Harborview care system and issue a Harborview U Card (ID) at this time.
- If you're a continuing patient, please arrive 15 minutes early. Have your Harborview U Card ready. We will register you and check to see that your address and insurance information are up to date.
When you come for a clinic visit,you can get your prescription filled by a pharmacist in the clinic. If you run out of refills before your next clinic appointment, call our office at (206)744-3576 or 1-800-EPI-DOCS (1-800-374-3627). Give us your name, the phone number of the pharmacy where you'll be picking up your medication, and the names of the medications you want refilled. Please call at least two working days before your supply runs out. For example, if you are going to run out of medicine over the weekend, you must call our office by the Wednesday before that weekend.
Please note that we will only be able to refill your medications until your next scheduled appointment with your doctor. If you miss your next appointment and do not reschedule, we will not be able to refill your medication over the phone. To refill your medication, you must talk to your doctor or make another appointment.
You can call or come to the Epilepsy Center office and we will order copies of your medical records for you. Or, you can call the Release for Information Unit at Patient Data Services directly at (206)521-1573. In either case, you must sign a Consent for Release of Medical Information form. It usually takes the Patient Data Services Department about three weeks to mail your records.
How you are billed for your care depends on the clinic where you were seen and the type of insurance you have.
You may receive two bills for your care. One bill, from Harborview, will cover your hospital services or clinic visit. The other, from University Physicians, will cover your doctor charges. Some patients receive one bill combining both charges.
If you receive two bills, your Harborview bill will indicate whether we have billed your insurance company or if you are expected to pay. Please notify Outpatient Registration if you change insurance plans (206)744-5930.
For questions or information about your Harborview bill: Call the Patient Financial Information Center at (206) 685-1121 or Patient Financial Relations at (206) 744-3554.
For questions or information about your University Physicians bill: Call (206)8606 or (206)744-3487.
Interpreter Services are available for non-English, limited English-speaking and hearing-impaired patients. To arrange for these services, please call our office at (206)744-3576 before your appointment.
Services for People with Disabilities
Special services for sight-, hearing-, and speech-impaired patients are available, including a portable teletypewriter (TTY). Please ask for these services when you make your appointment so that we have them ready in time for your visit.
Your Rights and Responsibilities
We respect your rights as a patient. For information on your rights and responsibilities as a patient, please ask for a brochure on this topic in the clinic. Brochures are also available in languages other than English. Ask for these at the Outpatient Registration desk.
Accessing Epilepsy Clinic Services
To obtain services or information during regular business hours, call (206) 744-3576 if you live in Seattle area, or 1-800-EPI-DOCS (1-800-374-3627) if you live outside of the Seattle calling area. You will hear instructions about how to get prescriptions refilled, make an appointment, or speak directly to staff.
For life-threatening medical emergencies, call 911.
For after-hours care, call the Community Care Line at (206)744-2500.
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Regional Epilepsy Center
Seattle, Washington,
USA
(206)744-3576 or
(1-800-374-3627)
