There are few prognoses that carry as much weight as the one made for a patient with a disorder of consciousness (DoC). Erring one way could mean a life ends while there is still the possibility of improvement. Erring in the other direction could mean prolonging a life with no meaningful recovery. This is why the American Academy of Neurology updated their practice … [Read more...]
On the Front Lines of the Lyme Wars
Outside of the vaccine debate, few medical topics can get people riled up like Lyme disease. In fact, the term "Lyme wars" is often used to describe the debate about the diagnosis and treatment of this tick-borne disease. The bad news is that this debate probably isn’t going away anytime soon. The good news is that The American Academy of Neurology, Infectious Diseases Society … [Read more...]
More Evidence that Patient Portals Improve Patient Care
Of all the medical specialties, neurologists see some of the most complex patients. This idea bears out anecdotally among the neurologists we have interviewed here at Neurology Insights but also statistically. In this 2018 study published in JAMA, neurologists were ranked #3 among physician types for patient complexity as well as for their number of comorbidities (Nephrologists … [Read more...]
Does Adding Acupuncture to Your Practice Make Sense?
Skepticism is part and parcel of the practice of medicine. First Do No Harm looms large in every encounter. So when new practice modalities gain popularity, it’s not surprising that they take some time to gain widespread usage, particularly when their mechanism of action is unclear. Acupuncture definitely falls into that category, but its use is gaining momentum and its … [Read more...]
Social Relationships and Health Outcomes: The Role of Neurology
Discussing preventative health strategies with patients has become routine for most physicians. Watch what you eat, get some exercise, stop smoking, etc. But talking about social connection and isolation might not be part of the routine office visit for most physicians, yet it turns out it may be just as critical to preventative medicine as discussing diet. Dr. Joel … [Read more...]