The Neurologic Content of Family Practice

Abstract

Recent publications provide information and opinion on the nature and prevalence of neurologic disorders in the United States.^1,2Others address issues of neurologic manpower and the future oversupply or undersupply of neurologically competent physicians.^3-5A related question is addressed in this report: What neurologic problems come to family and general practitioners, those members of the medical community most frequently contacted for initial diagnosis and subsequent management or referral? Identification of the neurologic disorders frequently encountered in day-to-day family or general practice is useful to several groups, such as undergraduate medical curriculum planners and health professionals who determine training and certification requirements for generalists. The information is important to neurologists and administrators of neurologic training programs for several reasons. To merit referrals, neurologists must provide care of neurologic patients superior to that of generalists. The decision to seek neurologic consultation partially is determined by the generalist's perceptions of