Job Summary:

The Neurologist will diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and disorders of the nervous system.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervises medical technicians in the performance of neurological diagnostic or therapeutic activities.
• Provides training to medical students or staff members.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Interviews patients to obtain information such as complaints, symptoms, medical histories, and family histories.
• Examines patients to obtain information about the functional statuses of areas such as vision, physical strength, coordination, reflexes, sensations, language skills, cognitive abilities, and mental status.
• Interprets results of neuroimaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and positron emission tomography (PET) scans.
• Diagnoses neurological conditions based on interpretation of examination findings, histories, or test results.
• Identifies and treats major neurological system diseases and disorders such as central nervous system infection, craniospinal trauma, dementia, and stroke.
• Performs and/or interprets the outcomes of procedures or diagnostic tests such as lumbar punctures, electroencephalography, electromyography, and nerve conduction velocity tests. Orders and/or interprets results of laboratory analyses of patients blood or cerebrospinal fluid.
• Prescribes or administers medications such as anti-epileptic drugs. Monitors patients for behavioral and cognitive side effects.
• Informs patients or families of patients with neurological diagnoses and prognoses, the benefits, risks and costs of various treatment plans.
• Prepares, maintains, and reviews records that include patients histories, neurological examination findings, treatment plans, or outcomes.
• Communicates with other health care professionals regarding patients conditions and care.
• Refers patients to other health care practitioners as necessary.
• Advises other physicians on the treatment of neurological problems.
• Participates in continuing education activities to maintain and expand competence.
• Orders supportive care services such as physical therapy, specialized nursing care, and social services.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to identify complex problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Strong knowledge of medicine that would be obtained by graduation from medical school.
• Strong patient care and communication skills.

Education and Experience:

• An MD and current licensing is required
• Successful completion of an internship and residency at an accredited medical institution.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• May require prolonged periods of standing, reaching or bending.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.