A social and epidemiologic approach to use of technology in neurologic practice

There is a consensus that technology is not always used appropriately in many medical care situations. In this article, a social and epidemiologic approach looks beyond biomedical issues to examine short- and long-term social consequences of using newer technology, particularly as related to neurologic disease. The prevailing belief that noninvasive neurodiagnostic testing is harmless for the patient often overlooks important physical and behavioral effects. High-technology subspecialization within neurology affects the matrix of patient care as well as the character of the specialty. The principles of clinical epidemiology and social medicine can help practitioners use neurotechnology more rationally.