Imad Najm, MD

“It's going to be a game changer, where the physical confines of things are not going to be a limitation anymore. We're going to be able to reach out to the world, and the world will be able to reach out to us.”

Patients are accustomed to seeing doctors in-person, and vice versa. While the overall reaction to telemedicine has been positive from both patients and doctors, there is still a level of adjustment that comes with this non-traditional, virtual style of diagnosis and treatment.

Imad Najm, MD, director, Epilepsy Center, and vice chair, Neurological Institute for Strategy and Development, Cleveland Clinic, sees the vast potential of telemedicine and the impact it can have on the epilepsy community.

In addition to allowing for better access to those who are unable to travel to see specialist, telemedicine can have a direct impact on patient savings, from work hours lost to transportation fees and use of resources. This increased role of digital technology will change the practices doctors use for diagnosing patients. In an interview with 

, Najm detailed his prediction regarding the change in clinical practice with the implementation of telemedicine.

Videos

The director of the Epilepsy Center and vice chair of the Neurological Institute for Strategy and Development at Cleveland Clinic detailed the transition patients and doctors make from the office to telemedicine.

Imad Najm, MD: Transitioning to Telemedicine 

“It’s enabling people even 10 miles from where we are to take 10 minutes from their work schedule to come to a private room, connect with us using their cell phone, get the physician to see them, to alleviate some of their angst, and to help them.”

While not a new technology, telemedicine continues to revolutionize the way doctors can assess and treat patients all from the comfort and convenience of their own home or workspace. These virtual visits enable patients to receive specialty care regardless of their location, and also enable physicians to participate in the care of patients located at other institutions.

Imad Najm, the director of the Epilepsy Center and vice chair of the Neurological Institute for Strategy and Development at Cleveland Clinic, detailed how Cleveland Clinic is expanding the utilization of telemedicine to expand their scope of care.

Cleveland Clinic has been at the forefront of this technology, using it to care for patients across multiple clinic locations around the world. Telemedicine is also utilized for patient care discussions between remote physicians to review cases and treatment plans. In this interview with 

, Najm shared his excitement for this technology and what untapped potential it has for the future.

The director of the Epilepsy Center and vice chair of the Neurological Institute for Strategy and Development at Cleveland Clinic discussed the advanced application of telemedicine at Cleveland Clinic.

Imad Najm, MD: Taking Telemedicine to the Next Level 

“It may give some benefit to the patient, their family, their loved ones to at least give them at least a warning that this patient may be having a seizure or may have had a seizure.”

Wearable technology has continued to make inroads for detecting epileptic seizures, with one device currently FDA-approved. The devices can serve as warning systems for patients and caregivers, as well as a way for providers to track seizure trends over time. In an interview with 

, Imad Najm, MD, the director of the Epilepsy Center at Cleveland Clinic, detailed the important role that wearable technology can play in detecting seizures in patients with epilepsy.

While wearable technology has made strides, there are still shortcomings in the sensitivity of what it can and cannot detect that need to be improved upon. On one hand, patients whose seizures go unnoticed or underreported can be undertreated, and in the case of hypersensitivity, some movements may be wrongly flagged as seizure activity.If recorded incorrectly, it could cause unnecessary mobilization of emergency services.   

In the interview, Najm detailed the evolution of wearable devices and their ultimate potential for improving epilepsy care.

The director of the Epilepsy Center at Cleveland Clinic reviewed the role that wearable technology can play in detecting seizures in patients with epilepsy.

Imad Najm, MD: Impact of Wearable Technology in Epilepsy 

“The excitement about CBD doesn’t come from the epilepsy specialists, it actually comes from society and the community. They think that CBD is the best treatment for not only epilepsy, but many other things.”

Cannabidiol (CBD) has become one of the most sought after, highly discussed options for treating not only epilepsy but other disabling conditions. Although it is a proven and FDA-approved treatment for Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndrome, epilepsy specialists should be cautious about prescribing it to anyone and everyone who seeks it. In an interview with 

, Imad Najm, MD, the director of the Epilepsy Center at Cleveland Clinic, described the pressure physicians face when patients fail to understand the purpose and utility of CBD.  

CBD is still in a very early stage of development and exploration for other types of epilepsies, and there is accumulating evidence that over-the-counter CBD products are often tainted or misrepresented compared with pharmaceutical grade CBD that physicians prescribe to their patients. Still, Najm remained positive that with more research, the possibilities of CBD treatment could expand in the future.

In the interview, Najm reviewed the complex dynamic that epilepsy specialists and patients share when discussing whether CBD is an appropriate treatment.

The director of the Epilepsy Center at Cleveland Clinic discussed why cannabidiol should be used cautiously in patients with epilepsy.

Author | Imad Najm, MD

Articles

Imad Najm, MD: Transitioning to Telemedicine

Imad Najm, MD: Taking Telemedicine to the Next Level

Imad Najm, MD: Impact of Wearable Technology in Epilepsy

Imad Najm, MD: Utilizing CBD Effectively