E. Lee Murray, MD, and
Monico Peter Baňez, MD, MBA, FACP, SFHM
CHAPTER CONTENTS
•Models of a Hospital Neurology Service
OVERVIEW
Hospital neurology is a rapidly growing subspecialty. In addition to hospital-based general neurologists, there has also been an expansion of hospital-based specialty care services, including stroke centers, epilepsy centers, and neuro-critical care services.
There is a clear need for more neurologists of all types, but particularly hospital neurologists. Neurologic diagnoses make up between 10% and 20% of admissions to hospitals,1 and a disproportionate number of delayed discharges have primary neurologic diagnoses.2 Hospital neurology services can help to improve the quality and efficiency of care.
Where will the hospital neurologists come from? A diverse group is a product of diverse pathways. A few will do defined hospital neurology fellowships, some will have completed stroke or neuro-critical care fellowships, whereas others will be general neurologists.
In this book, we use the term hospital neurologist. An equivalent term is neurohospitalist. Other predominately hospital-based neurologists include stroke neurologists and neurointensivists.
MODELS OF A HOSPITAL NEUROLOGY SERVICE
The organization of a hospital neurology service depends greatly on the features of the practice, including institution size, patient volume, referral patterns, and community culture (see Table 1.1).
Table 1.1 Models of a hospital neurology practice
