The Consultations of Neurology for Hospitalized Patients

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the reasons and frequency of consultations asked for patients hospitalized in clinics other than neurology and the index of productivity of these consultations according to criteria which was originally formed by us. A form was organized for each patient containing social and demographic data, diagnosis, reason for consultation, the date of hospitalization, the date of consultation, neurological diagnosis or prodiagnosis and the clinical course. Neurological consultations were asked for 172 out of 1560 patients who were hospitalized and each one was examined by a neurologist. The frequency of neurology consultations were foundto be 11%. It was determined that this frequency was highest in internal medicine, infectious disease and otorhinolaryngology and the reason for a consultation was mostly a proxysmal disorders such as headache, paresthesia and vertigo . The index of productivity was higher in internal medicine branches than surgical branches. The frequency of consultations and index of productivity were found to be very low in surgical branches except otorhinolaryngology, orthopedics and ophthalmology. These results were thought to be due to utilization of more radical methods and shorter hospitalization periods in surgical branches. Consulting for a neurological examination is important and factors affecting efficiency must be carefully considered by all clinical branches.