Neurologists
One time I was sitting in a cafe in my city and saw a man staring at my face in a really strange way, as if he knew me and wanted to talk to me but something was stopping him. Then suddenly he started making strange, unintelligible movements with his hands, head, and neck, and I heard one of the people with him say, "He's having a seizure." At the time I didn't really know what epilepsy was, but when I read about it, I learned it's a chronic brain condition that leaves patients unable to control their bodies, which can cause involuntary movements in certain parts of the body and sometimes loss of consciousness. Epilepsy is one of the strangest conditions you might come across in your life — it's a frightening and very serious disease, and sadly around 50 million people around the world live with epilepsy, considered one of the most common neurological conditions, which also include Alzheimer's, spinal muscular atrophy, Parkinson's disease, migraines, and strokes, among other conditions related to the brain, nervous system, and spinal cord that affect more than a billion people worldwide, according to World Health Organization estimates. All conditions related to the brain and nerves are deeply troubling, since the nervous system controls every organ and part of the human body, and any disruption, no matter how small, in any part of it will cause serious health problems. That's why neurology is one of the most important specialties in medicine — the neurologist is responsible for diagnosing and treating the various neurological conditions that affect people of all ages. So today we'll be talking about the profession of neurologist, and in the paragraphs ahead we'll explain in detail the nature of their job.
Meet the Writer: Waleed Abo Omiraa
What You'll Actually Do
The core tasks and responsibilities that fill a typical day.
- Participate in neuroscience research activities.
- Provide training to medical students or staff members.
- Participate in continuing education activities to maintain and expand competence.
- Supervise medical technicians in the performance of neurological diagnostic or therapeutic activities.
- Counsel patients or others on the background of neurological disorders including risk factors, or genetic or environmental concerns.
- Interpret the results of neuroimaging studies, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans.
- Refer patients to other health care practitioners as necessary.
- Advise other physicians on the treatment of neurological problems.
- Prescribe or administer medications, such as anti-epileptic drugs, and monitor patients for behavioral and cognitive side effects.
- Prepare, maintain, or review records that include patients' histories, neurological examination findings, treatment plans, or outcomes.
- Order or interpret results of laboratory analyses of patients' blood or cerebrospinal fluid.
- Order supportive care services, such as physical therapy, specialized nursing care, and social services.
- Interview patients to obtain information, such as complaints, symptoms, medical histories, and family histories.
- Inform patients or families of neurological diagnoses and prognoses, or benefits, risks and costs of various treatment plans.
- Diagnose neurological conditions based on interpretation of examination findings, histories, or test results.
- Develop treatment plans based on diagnoses and on evaluation of factors, such as age and general health, or procedural risks and costs.
- Determine brain death using accepted tests and procedures.
- Communicate with other health care professionals regarding patients' conditions and care.
- Coordinate neurological services with other health care team activities.
- Perform or interpret the outcomes of procedures or diagnostic tests, such as lumbar punctures, electroencephalography, electromyography, and nerve conduction velocity tests.
- Identify and treat major neurological system diseases and disorders, such as central nervous system infection, cranio spinal trauma, dementia, and stroke.
- Examine patients to obtain information about functional status of areas, such as vision, physical strength, coordination, reflexes, sensations, language skills, cognitive abilities, and mental status.