The creation of a two-bed Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) is a pioneering initiative in Crete. It presents a unique opportunity to enhance outcomes for individuals grappling with epileptic seizures. EMUs are “the gold standard” for the differential diagnosis, classification, quantification and localization of seizures. Today, Crete and the surrounding islands do not have access to high-level means to diagnose epileptic seizures. The prevalence of epilepsy is approximately 1%, i.e. 1 out of 100 people suffer from epilepsy. The island of Crete has a population of 630,000 and the catchment area of the University Hospital of Heraklion including all neighboring islands in Southern Greece exceeds 1 million people. Typically, in a population of this size in the U.S., there will be four or more hospitals with a minimum of two beds each to serve that population. We assume that once our two-bed EMU is operational, we will be able to admit, diagnose and treat a number of patients per year with seizure disorders, free of charge!
This endeavor has the full support of both Dr. Panagiotis Mitsias, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer at the University of Crete Hospital and George M. Kontakis, Rector of the University of Crete.
To build out the two-bed Epilepsy Monitoring Unit would require the PAA to raise $110,000.00 US dollars. The PAA Philanthropic Committee will be donating towards the fundraising efforts but we are also currently seeking donations, large and small, to help us achieve our goal to build the two-bed Unit within the next six months. Any donations over $10,000 will be honored with their name on a permanent plaque in the Unit and donors will also be recognized as Great Benefactors of the Pancretan Association of America.