Epilepsy Care at Home
How to Document Seizures for Better Care and GAPP Approval
Families of children with epilepsy juggle a lot. Meds, school coordination, triggers, and the constant “what if.” One simple habit can improve care and speed up support through programs like GAPP (Georgia Pediatric Program): keeping a high-quality seizure log and a clear Seizure Action Plan.
This guide explains exactly what to track, how to use logs with your child’s neurologist and school, and how thorough documentation supports medical necessity when your GAPP agency submits your packet.
Why seizure documentation matters
Clinical decisions: Neurologists adjust medications and rescue plans based on patterns in your log.
School & IEP/504 coordination: A written Seizure Action Plan (SAP) plus a consistent log helps school nurses respond safely.
GAPP approvals: Specific, time-stamped records (e.g., frequency, rescue meds, recovery time) demonstrate skilled nursing needs in the PPOT and can shorten back-and-forth with reviewers.
Fast-track tip: The faster families provide an IEP/504 and a recent Seizure Log, the faster a GAPP application can be submitted for review.
What to include in a seizure log
Capture the same fields every time so trends are easy to see:
Date & exact time (include night events)
Type/description (staring, tonic-clonic, drop attack, focal motor, etc.)
Duration (minutes/seconds)
Triggers (illness, missed dose, sleep loss, flashing lights, stress)
Observations (awareness, color change, breathing, injuries, incontinence)
Interventions (positioning, timing, rescue med given with dose/time)
Recovery (postictal sleep/confusion, how long to baseline)
Notes for patterns (cluster days, menses, illness)
Keep a monthly total of events and count of rescue-med uses. These roll-ups are really helpful for doctors and payers.
Use official templates (or make your own)
Seizure Action Plan (SAP): Download a fillable SAP and bring it to your next neurology visit. Update it after med changes and at the start of each school year. Epilepsy Foundation+1
My Seizure Event Diary (paper): The Epilepsy Foundation provides an easy printable diary; it’s perfect when multiple caregivers are observing. Epilepsy Foundation+1
More seizure forms & resources: School forms and additional templates are available from the Epilepsy Foundation. Epilepsy Foundation
Prefer digital? You can still mirror these fields in a notes app or spreadsheet. What matters most is consistency and specifics.
Turning logs into better care
A great log tells a clinical story. Here’s how to make it work for you:
Quantify frequency
“6 seizures in July; 2 required rescue med; 3 occurred between 1–4 a.m.”
Show skilled-task needs
Airway positioning, suctioning, oxygen/oximeter monitoring, rescue med administration, injury prevention. Note which tasks were needed and how often.
Document risk without nursing
Aspiration, prolonged recovery, recurrent nocturnal events, falls/injury, cyanosis. These are the risks reviewers look for in PPOTs.
Bundle evidence
Submit the log with the SAP, recent neurology notes, med list, IEP/504, and any ED/hospital summaries.
Update monthly
Bring a printed summary to neurology; send a copy to your GAPP agency before renewals or hour-increase requests.
Sharing your plan at school (IEP/504 + SAP)
Give the school nurse and teacher the Seizure Action Plan and your latest medication list. Ask how they document events at school and request a weekly summary. Epilepsy Foundation
Align your IEP/504 accommodations with the SAP (quiet recovery space, testing flexibility, water/snack access after events, safety plan for PE/recess).
Re-train staff after medication or plan changes and at the start of each semester.
Building a PPOT that reflects real life (for GAPP)
When your agency prepares the Physician’s Plan of Treatment (PPOT), your logs streamline the language clinicians need:
Specific skilled tasks + frequency
“Rescue med protocol used 2× this month; nocturnal monitoring needed 5 nights/week due to desaturations.”
Day vs. night needs
“Nocturnal events between 1–4 a.m.; requires monitoring, positioning, and oximetry.”
Recent utilization
“ED visit 6/14 for prolonged seizure; medication titration 6/20.”
Rationale for hours
Link hours requested to task frequency and risk mitigation.
Backlog note: Approval timelines are a bit backed up right now. Working with a trusted agency that submits a complete, right-the-first-time packet (logs, SAP, IEP/504, neurology notes, med list) gives you the best shot at a faster decision.
How parents can speed things up this week
Request records yourself from portals (neurology clinic notes, ED summaries). Download as PDFs.
Email your pediatrician/neurologist asking to expedite the SAP update and PPOT language for Medicaid home-care review.
Send everything in one bundle to your agency: seizure log (last 3–6 months), SAP, IEP/504, med list, device orders (e.g., suction, pulse ox), and any hospital notes.
Respond fast to any follow-ups from your agency or reviewer (24–48 hours).
Safety basics & when to call 911
Always follow your child’s Seizure Action Plan and your clinician’s instructions. Seek emergency care for:
First-ever seizure, breathing trouble, or seizure lasting longer than plan thresholds
Repeated seizures without full recovery (status), severe injury, or color change/respiratory distress
(For formal seizure first-aid guidance and action-plan resources, see the Epilepsy Foundation.)
Helpful links
Epilepsy Foundation – Home page & resources (English/Spanish helpline available). Epilepsy Foundation
Seizure Action Plan (fillable PDF) – bring to neurology and school. Epilepsy Foundation
My Seizure Event Diary (printable) – paper diary for families and schools. Epilepsy Foundation
Using seizure diaries (overview & tips) – when/why to track. Epilepsy Foundation
