Clinical Component

Navigating the Clinical Component

The clinical responsibilities across the neurology department encompass a wide range of services tailored to each specialty. The collaborative and multidisciplinary framework ensures comprehensive care for patients with diverse neurological needs.

Patient Population and Services:
The department serves a diverse patient demographic, addressing conditions including movement disorders, cognitive impairments, neuromuscular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and pediatric neurological conditions. The high-volume program includes specialized clinics for ALS, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, and stroke, among others.

Services and Procedures: 

Critical Care: 100% Critical Care Intensivist 

  • Stroke: Management of acute and chronic stroke cases, including IV thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy.
  • Epilepsy: Monitoring and surgical management in dedicated epilepsy units.
  • Movement Disorders: Advanced therapies like Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and botulinum toxin injections.
  • Neuromuscular Diseases: Electromyography (EMG) and diagnostic testing for conditions like ALS and myasthenia gravis.
  • Memory and Cognitive Disorders: Evaluation and management of dementia and Alzheimer’s, supported by research trials.
  • Pediatrics: Comprehensive care for epilepsy, developmental disorders, and other pediatric neurology cases.

Call Coverage by Specialty

Neurology:

General Neurology Call: Rotating schedule shared among faculty, typically involving coverage for inpatient consults and urgent outpatient needs.
Telestroke Call: Faculty provide virtual stroke consultations, usually 5–6 calls per month, depending on the pool of participants.

Memory:
Call responsibilities are minimal, primarily involving consultation for inpatient memory-related cases. Memory specialists typically focus on outpatient care.

Movement Disorder:
Movement specialists have limited call duties, focusing on outpatient follow-ups and urgent care needs for Parkinson’s and related disorders.
Memory-related on-call duties are rare and typically handled during regular clinic hours.

Muscular Neurology:
Call duties include managing neuromuscular emergencies, such as myasthenic crises, and interpreting urgent EMG results. These responsibilities are shared among neuromuscular faculty.

Stroke:
Stroke Service Call: Covered in 7-day inpatient blocks, including both general stroke and telestroke services.
Telestroke Call: Physicians typically manage multiple cases remotely during on-call periods.

Pediatric Neurology:
Pediatric neurologists provide on-call coverage for inpatient cases, epilepsy monitoring units, and emergency consultations. Clinic schedules are reduced during on-call weeks to accommodate these responsibilities. 

Technology and EMR Systems:
The facility is equipped with advanced diagnostic tools, including epilepsy monitoring units and state-of-the-art imaging. The practice uses an integrated Epic electronic medical record (EMR) system to streamline documentation and patient management.

Research and Teaching Opportunities:
Clinical research is a cornerstone of the department, with active trials in areas such as ALS, Parkinson’s, stroke, and dementia. Physicians also contribute to resident and fellow education, enhancing academic engagement.

Support Services:
The department benefits from robust support services, including physician assistants, advanced practice providers, and a medical illustrator for educational content. Integrated care teams provide access to physical therapy, speech therapy, and specialized coordinators for surgical and non-surgical interventions. 

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