Profile of a neurology residency

The pattern and frequency of patient encounters during the Boston (Mass) University adult neurology residency program (1988 to 1991) for one resident was compared with that in general neurology practice as well as with the frequency of neurologic disorders in the US population. A total of 1332 new patients (85% adult, 15% pediatric) were seen during a 3-year period. This total represented 970 inpatients (73% of all patients) and 362 outpatients (27%). The resident encountered more patients in the hospital (7.5 admissions or 13 consultations per week) and fewer patients in the clinic (2.5 new outpatients per week) than does the average community neurologist (two admissions, 8.7 consultations, and 13.2 new outpatients). The most common diagnosis for an admission encounter was acute ischemic infarct; for a consultation, metabolic encephalopathy; and for an outpatient encounter, radiculopathy. Less prevalent neurologic disorders in the United States (eg, cognitive, demyelinating, movement, and neoplastic disorders) were encountered more frequently in residency than were very prevalent neurologic disorders (eg, headache and trauma). This is the first reported summary of all patients one resident actually encountered during neurology training. The patient encounter profile suggests that this residency training overemphasized acute inpatient care of less prevalent neurologic disorders compared with outpatient care of more prevalent disorders commonly seen in a neurology practice. Accumulation of similar data from other residencies and practicing neurologists can help residency directors assess the changing needs of residents in training and guide curriculum in response to changes in practice patterns.