Neurology, General (Minnesota)
Early in the elective, students spend one day observing the activities of Mayo's EEG laboratory, and, if scheduling allows, the EMG laboratory. Students then spend the first one or two weeks in the outpatient clinic familiarizing themselves with the neurological examination as described in the book, Clinical Examinations in Neurology, prepared by members of the Department of Neurology. Students see several patients daily, working with one consultant. After the consultant has examined the patient, the history and the physical findings are discussed, along with diagnostic possibilities and necessary laboratory studies.
The remaining weeks are spent on an inpatient neurologic service at the Saint Marys Campus or Methodist Campus of Mayo Clinic Hospital. Students are expected to make daily rounds with the consultant and the residents on the service and to present any patients they have seen the preceding afternoon. Students also are expected to follow the patients throughout their hospital stay.
Students are not on call, so their evenings are usually free for independent study. However, they are encouraged to spend time in the hospital during the evening since many admissions occur at that time. Students are encouraged to attend the numerous neurologic teaching sessions scheduled during the week. These include clinical conferences, EMG and EEG seminars, a neurologic CPC and lectures in basic neurology for the residents. Special interests or requests may be met, if feasible.
- Refine skills in conducting, recording and interpreting the neurologic examination.
- Increase the ability to define the historical temporal profile of the neurologic history and be able to synthesize the history and examination into a differential diagnosis.
- Select the appropriate sequence of laboratory examinations to establish the specific neurologic diagnosis.
- Learn the uses and limitations of EEG, EMG, neuroradiologic and neuro-ophthalmologic diagnostic tests.
- Increase knowledge of neurologic therapeutics and their potential risks.
- Gain experience in performing lumbar punctures.
- Evaluate and manage common and emergent neurologic disorders; understand when such problems require the opinion of a neurologist.
||8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.|
||1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., or as necessary|
Method of evaluation
Consultants who work with students provide written performance evaluations.