Department of Neurology

The educational objectives of the adult outpatient Neurology services at The Vanderbilt Clinic for the first year Neurology resident are to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to perform a thorough neurological exam and to diagnosis and manage ambulatory patients presenting with a broad range of neurological illnesses. The resident will assume an ascending level of responsibility (with appropriate faculty supervision) based upon maturation of knowledge, skills and attitudes applicable to the educational goals of this experience. The specific educational goals for this experience include:
• A practical experience in obtaining an orderly and detailed history from the patient, in conducting a thorough neurological examination, and in organizing and recording data
• An understanding of the indications for and the limitations of clinical neurodiagnostic tests and their interpretation
• The ability to correlate information derived from neurodiagnostic studies with the clinical history and examination in formulating a differential diagnosis and management plan
• Participation in the evaluation of and decision making for patients with disorders of the nervous system requiring surgical management
• Participation in the management of patients with a psychiatric or neuro-psychiatric disorders
• To better understand the principles of bioethics and the provision of appropriate and cost-effective evaluation and treatment of patients with neurologic disorders
• Participation in end-of-life palliative care including adequate pain relief and psycho-social support and counseling for family members about these issues

Resident Responsibilities

1st, 2nd, and 3rd Year Neurology Residents
• Attend nine half-day clinics per week in the subspecialty TVC setting. The Chief Resident will outline the schedule of clinics.
• Have one’s own patient template in that clinic for which the resident is responsible.
• Fully evaluate patients prior to presenting a formulated assessment and plan to the attending.
• Once staffed with the attending, implement formal plans as well as document a complete note. Notes must be available in StarNotes/StarChart (i.e. typed or dictated).
• The resident will staff his/her regularly scheduled continuity clinic in addition to the nine half-day clinics assigned during this rotation.
• One half-day for independent study.
• Never hesitate to contact the senior resident or attending physician if there are questions regarding patient care and/or responsibilities.