What you will do:

You will be under the supervision of a physician who is board-certified in neurology. The preceptor has a strong background in teaching, having been involved in the education of nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and medical students. This physician receives high marks on his bedside manner, especially for compassion, caring nature, professionalism, and time spent with patients during encounters. The preceptor holds a staff appointment at Cleveland Clinic Florida. Please note that this physician has several colleagues in the office and you will also spend time with these other practitioners.

In this outpatient practice, you will encounter patients with a wide variety of neurologic disease, including balance disorders, epilepsy, migraines, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, myopathy, Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, stroke, spasticity, and dementia. You will be able to hone your skills in history-taking, gain confidence in your ability to perform the neurological exam, and present cases.

Procedures and tests are done in the clinic which you will be able to observe and learn from. For example, with EMGs, you will be able to better understand its indications, role in diagnosis, procedural steps, and possible complications. Other procedures include EEG, Botox injection for dystonia, spasticity, blepharospasm, and migraines, nerve conduction velocity, neuromuscular ultrasound, evoked potential testing, and videonystagmography. The practice has an infusion center with treatment options for patients suffering from chronic, severe headache.

During your experience, you will learn the following U.S. medical practices under the preceptor’s supervision:

• Taking patient histories.

• Performing exams under the physician's supervision.

• Presenting patients.

• Understanding the EMR (rotators receive access to the chart).

• Researching the literature to answer clinical questions at the point of care.

• Gaining an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of other healthcare professionals.