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Looking for a Neurologist? Here are 5 Tips to Choose One

Aug 25 , 2017 | 3 min read

To receive the best medical care, you should always first consult your primary care doctor. Your primary care doctor will be able to recommend you a neurologist basis your condition. However, in cases of emergencies, it makes sense to consult a specialist.

Neurology is a broad and complex field of medicine that deals with the disorders of the nervous system. It specifically deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all diseases involving the central, peripheral and autonomic nervous systems. A neurologist is an expert who treats diseases in the brain and spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and muscles. Neurological diseases can include epilepsy, headaches, stroke, and movement disorders like a tremor or Parkinson’s disease.

If you or a family member have been diagnosed with any of these diseases, then consulting a neurologist should be the first thing must do. Remember, it is a personal decision, albeit an important one.

If you are looking for a neurologist, here are five tips to choose one –

Get Referrals

Start by reviewing the references provided by your primary care doctor. If you don’t have a family doctor, ask friends, family and other healthcare providers for recommendations. Take time and research the credentials and experience of every doctor in the list. As you are narrowing down the list, ask for a consult appointment with the neurologist and see if you want to continue with them.

Consider the Neurologist’s Experience

The experience of the doctor matters when you or a family member is facing a severe neurological illness. The more experience a neurologist has with treating a particular condition, the better your chances of getting better. Ask the consulting neurologist about their experience, and how many patients they have successfully treated. For instance, if you are a patient of multiple sclerosis, then ask the neurologist about their experience in treating this condition.

Hospital Quality

Remember, your doctor’s hospital is your hospital. Consider the quality of care given by the hospital and what are the facilities available for patients. Hospital quality is a highly critical factor because the patients at top-rated hospitals suffer from fewer complications and have better survival rates. You can also bring the location of the hospital in the account and see if the proximity of location is a necessity for you. Closer the hospital, the better are your chances of reaching there in a case of a mishap. For instance, if you are based out in Delhi or the NCR region, Max Healthcare has the best neurologist in Delhi.

Communication Style and Approachability

A doctor must be easily approachable, one with whom you feel comfortable talking and who shows absolute transparency in your treatment. Since neurological diseases are complex and require an extensive study of patient’s history, you must be able to communicate freely with the neurologist. Treating neurological diseases hinge more on discussions than sophisticated scans. Look how welcoming the neurologist is, and if they answer all your questions. Ensure that there is a suitable amount of two-way communication.

Neurologist’s Credentials

Accreditation is one of the key factors to consider when choosing a neurologist. Credentials, education, and training will tell you about the qualification of your neurologist. It will showcase doctor’s training, experience, and skills.

The points mentioned above are crucial when choosing a neurologist. It is imperative to visit the neurologist in person and put together every piece of information for a successful diagnosis and treatment. The final choice of choosing the neurologist is yours. However, it’s for the neurologist to explain how best they can help you.

*There is a difference between a neurologist and a neurosurgeon. The training is totally different. Common people do not know the difference and land up with a neurosurgeon for neurological problems. If there is any neurological problem first consult a neurologist (DM neurologist in particular trained from good and reputed institute) and then let him decide whether the patient requires neuro surgeon opinion or not.