Neurology and Emergencies

In the event of an emergency that can be managed over the phone, Dr. Sjonnesen is available 24/7 for the patients she sees at Pinecone Pediatrics

About

  • Dr. Sjonnesen finished her Pediatric Neurology residency in Calgary in 2023, followed by a fellowship in pediatric behavioural neurology and neuropsychiatry.
  • She is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. 

We are very excited to welcome Dr. Kirsten Sjonnesen. She brings her expertise in Pediatric Neurology to our clinic! Kirsten welcomes referrals for:

  • Headache disorders and migraine
  • Motor development and movement concerns including tics and Tourette Syndrome (suspected or diagnosed)
  • Functional neurological symptoms/disorders (suspected or diagnosed)
  • Post-concussive symptoms
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders with additional neurological symptoms (e.g. query ADHD in a child with seizures)
  • Seizure and epilepsy disorders
    • Epilepsy (new or established diagnoses)
    • Query seizures, spells, or paroxysmal events of uncertain nature

. Exclusion criteria include:

  • Acute neurologic concerns needing urgent care (e.g., daily seizures, acute regression, new focal neurological deficits), suspected infantile spasms, neurodevelopmental concerns without neurologic features (e.g., isolated autism, ADHD, isolated speech delay), epilepsy requiring vagal nerve stimulation or ketogenic diet, known brain tumors, conditions better served by team-based care (e.g. CP, leukodystrophies, MS, mitochondrial disorders, severe neuromuscular disorders), isolated requests for EEG / MRI / medical cannabis authorization, second opinions for patients already followed by tertiary neurology.

Dr. Kirsten Sjonnesen

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After Hours Support for Urgent Epilepsy Concerns

How to Reach Our Pediatric Neurologist in an Emergency

For patients currently being treated for epilepsy or a seizure disorder by Dr. Sjonnesen, she is available by phone to answer urgent questions after hours when appropriate.

When to call 911 for epilepsy/seizures:

  • Caregiver believes a life-threatening emergency is occurring
  • First time seizure in a child without diagnosed epilepsy/seizure disorder
  • Seizure with loss of consciousness longer than 5 minutes, not responding to rescue med if available
  • More than 3 seizures in one hour (except for absence seizures)
  • Repeated seizures longer than 10 minutes, no recovery between them, not responding to rescue med if available
  • Difficulty breathing after seizure
  • Serious injury occurs or is suspected
  • A seizure in water
  • Caregiver not comfortable with seizure first aid

    Alternatives:

     
    811 (Health Link) is available 24/7 for non-urgent medical advice from a nurse. You can mention you are a patient at Pinecone Pediatrics and ask if the Access 365 clinic might be an option for you.

When to contact the neurologist:

Parents may contact Dr. Sjonnesen after hours for the following: Change in seizure type, number or pattern that is not meeting the above criteria to call 911.
 
This service is not for prescription refills, school forms, or general questions— please contact Pinecone Pediatrics during regular hours,  to communicate with your pediatrician, with Dr. Sjonnesen and/or to book an appointment sooner, if needed.
 
For patients currently being treated for epilepsy or a seizure disorder by Dr. Sjonnesen, she is available by phone to answer urgent questions after hours and on weekends when appropriate. Please call Pinecone Pediatrics and select the menu option for "urgent epilepsy questions." If for some reason you are unable to reach her, please seek alternate supports.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Our services are currently on a referral only basis

Meaning to access our services you need to be referred by your family doctor, by a nurse practitioner, by an emergency physician or by a pediatric subspecialist. If you don’t have a family doctor, please contact us and we’ll help you with that part as well!
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