Spanish Language Epilepsy Clinic
The UTHealth Neurosciences Clinica Hispana de Epilepsia was founded by Nuria Lacuey Lecumberri, MD, to deliver care in Spanish for patients and families who have a limited English language proficiency. This hispanic epilepsy clinic is the first of its kind in Houston, offering Spanish-language services to patients with epilepsy and related disorders.
The Clinica Hispana de Epilepsia is part of the Texas Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, a collaboration between UTHealth Neurosciences and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.
The Texas Comprehensive Epilepsy Program is among the best in the nation, and offers patients optimized medical management and surgical options for the treatment of epilepsy, including the latest advances in minimally invasive surgery. Innovative technologies are available, such as stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) and laser therapy, and are performed by some of the most experienced epilepsy neurosurgeons in the world.
Each year, epilepsy affects 2 to 3 million people in the United States. The majority are seizure free, leading normal lives, but a third live with recurrent, often disabling seizures, rendering them at risk of significant morbidity and mortality. There may be many reasons for incurability, and accurate diagnosis as well as access to modern medical and surgical treatment options are essential to ensure seizure freedom. The consequences of ongoing seizures may include reduced quality of life, loss of employment, injuries, and reduced life expectancy.
Approximately 70,000 people with epilepsy live in the greater Houston metropolitan area, and 44.8% are Hispanic. Studies show that language barriers between patients and providers, even when interpreter services are provided, contribute to poorer outcomes, both epilepsy-related and psychosocial, among Hispanic patients with epilepsy as opposed to non-Hispanic patients with epilepsy.
Benefits of the Clinica Hispana de Epilepsia include:
- Access to experienced physicians and staff with special training in the diagnosis, treatment, and continued management of epilepsy
- Personalized epilepsy care for Spanish-speaking patients and their families with limited English proficiency
- Appointment coordination, care delivery, and interactions with patients and their families conducted by fluent Spanish speakers
The overarching goal of the Clínica Hispana de Epilepsia is to provide excellence in epilepsy care to a large, underserved Spanish-speaking population with limited English proficiency in Houston and beyond. Eliminating the language barrier has been shown to contribute to better patient outcomes, and access to modern medical and surgical treatment options are essential to ensure seizure freedom.
The Clinica Hispana de Epilepsia
UTHealth Neurosciences
6410 Fannin St, Suite 1014
Houston, TX 77030
For more information about the clinic or to request an appointment, please call (832) 325-7080 or fax (713) 512-2239.
Clinica Hispana de Epilepsia
UT Professional Building
6410 Fannin Street, Suite 1014
Houston, TX 77030
(832) 325-7080
(713) 512-2239 (fax)