Objectives
Clerkship Goals
To teach the principles and skills underlying the diagnosis and management of neurological diseases most likely to be encountered by the general medical practitioner.
Clerkship Objectives
1. To teach or reinforce the following procedural skills:
a. the ability to obtain and complete a reliable history
b. the ability to perform a reliable neurological exam
c. the ability to examine patients with altered level of
consciousness or abnormal mental status
d. the ability to deliver a clear, concise, and thorough
oral presentation of a patient’s history and
examination
e. the ability to prepare a clear, concise, and thorough
written presentation of a patient’s history and
examination
2. To teach or reinforce the following analytical skills:
a. the ability to recognize symptoms that may signify
neurological disease
b. the ability to distinguish normal from abnormal
findings on a neurological examination
c. the ability to localize the likely site or sites in the
nervous system where a lesion could produce a
patient’s symptoms signs
d. the ability to formulate a differential diagnosis based
on lesion localization, time course, and relevant
historical and demographic features
e. an awareness of the use and interpretation of
common tests used in diagnosing neurological
disease
f. an awareness of the principles underlying a
systematic approach to the management of common
neurological diseases including those that are
potential emergencies
g. an awareness of situation in which it is appropriate to
request neurological consultation
h. the ability to review and interpret the medical
literature pertinent to the specific issues of patient
care.
The types and numbers of patient interactions students are expected to have during the course of their Neurology Clerkship are those deemed necessary to achieve the goals and objectives for the clerkship outlined above within the relatively short period of time allotted for the clerkship. The students evaluate (under the direct supervision of a resident or attending) patients in the inpatient, outpatient and emergency room settings to gain a balanced experience reflecting the variety of patients seen across these settings. Students are made aware of the goals and objectives of the clerkship and the types and numbers of patients required to be seen. Electronic patient logs are kept to verify that students are meeting these goals and objectives.