Many patients wonder whether an EEG has to take place in a hospital once a doctor suggests one. An EEG can be recorded at home anywhere in Florida once a doctor orders it. Here at NeuroDoc, we dispatch a technician to set up the equipment, and no hospital stay is required. Omar Moore, MD is a board-certified neurologist and fellowship-trained epileptologist based in Jacksonville, Florida, who sees patients statewide by telehealth.
Benefits of Getting an EEG at Home in Florida
An at-home EEG removes the drive to a specialist’s office, which matters in a state as large as Florida and for patients who find travel difficult because of their symptoms or health. It also removes the need for a hospital stay, since a recording that runs for days can happen without an overnight admission. Your normal routine continues during the study. You sleep in your own bed, keep to your schedule, and can work from home while the equipment records. At NeuroDoc, the telehealth evaluation, the at-home recording, and the results review all happen with the same provider.
For how an at-home EEG compares with an in-lab EEG, see at-home EEG vs in-lab EEG.
Who Can Get an At-Home EEG in Florida
An at-home EEG requires a doctor’s order, which typically follows a neurological evaluation for seizures, blackouts, or other unexplained episodes. At NeuroDoc, that evaluation happens by telehealth, and Dr. Moore orders the study from that visit when it is the right test. Adults anywhere in Florida can be evaluated and, if appropriate, scheduled for an at-home EEG.
How to Get an EEG at Home in Florida
Getting an at-home EEG through NeuroDoc follows the same steps wherever you live in Florida.
- Request an appointment. Call (904) 204-6585 or submit an online appointment request. The practice responds within 48 hours to schedule your telehealth visit.
- Have your telehealth evaluation. Dr. Moore reviews your history and symptoms and orders an EEG if it is the right test for you.
- Prepare your hair and clothing. Wash your hair the day before with no conditioner, gel, or styling products, and set aside a button-front or zip-front shirt, since nothing can go over your head once the electrodes are on.
- A technician sets up the equipment. A trained EEG technician comes to your home and attaches the electrodes with a removable glue, usually finishing within an hour. If your doctor ordered a video EEG, a small camera is set up as well.
- The recording runs. The study typically lasts 24 to 72 hours while you go about your normal routine at home.
- The technician returns to remove the equipment. Once the recording is complete, the technician returns to remove the electrodes and collect the equipment.
What to Expect While Wearing an Ambulatory EEG
Showering, Clothing, and Daily Activities
The electrodes have to stay dry and in place for the whole recording, so showers and baths are on hold until the equipment comes off. A sponge bath from the neck down is the usual alternative. Loose, button-front tops make it easier to change clothes without disturbing the wires, and most other daily activities, including light exercise and going to work, can continue as usual.
Sleeping With an Ambulatory EEG
Sleeping normally is part of what the recording is meant to capture, since some abnormal brain activity appears only during sleep or right after waking. The wires and small recorder can be tucked into a pocket or a pouch worn around the waist, and arranging a few pillows to avoid rolling onto the equipment can make the first night more comfortable.
Keeping an Event Log
Write down the time and a short description of anything you notice, along with what you were doing right before it happened. If someone else is with you during an episode, their account of what they saw is often more detailed than what you remember yourself. Some at-home EEG devices also have a button to mark the moment an event happens, which helps line up the timestamp with the recording.
If a Seizure Happens During the Recording
Note the time in your log if you are able to, then treat the seizure the same as any other. A seizure lasting more than five minutes, or repeated seizures without recovery in between, is a medical emergency. Call 911.
After the At-Home EEG Equipment Comes Off
The technician removes the electrodes and washes away the glue, though some residue can be left in your hair that a regular wash usually clears. Mild redness where the electrodes sat is common and typically fades within a few hours. The recording is sent to NeuroDoc for review, and Dr. Moore explains what it showed at a follow-up telehealth visit before any treatment plan is written.
Schedule an At-Home EEG With NeuroDoc in Florida
You do not need to know in advance whether an at-home EEG is the right test. Bring your symptoms and questions to the first visit, and Dr. Moore will help determine the right next step. Call (904) 204-6585 or submit an online appointment request, and the practice will be in touch within 48 hours.
At-Home EEG in Florida FAQs
Does the Technician Stay During the Recording?
No. The technician completes the setup, shows you how the equipment works, and leaves once you are comfortable with it. The equipment records on its own while you go about your day, and the technician returns only to remove it once the study is finished.
Is At-Home EEG Available Anywhere in Florida?
Yes. We dispatch EEG technicians statewide, and the evaluation before and after the study happens by telehealth, which keeps the process the same wherever you live in Florida.
Can I Keep Taking My Medications During an At-Home EEG?
Whether to continue or adjust any medication during an EEG is a decision for your doctor, since stopping or changing a medication can affect what the recording shows. Let Dr. Moore know everything you are taking before the study, and the recording plan will account for it.
