A neurologist is a specialist who treats conditions of the nervous system consisting of the peripheral and central systems, inclusive of the spinal cord and the brain. When a patient receives an injury or experiences an illness or disorder with the nervous system, there is often the need for immediate management by neurology along with treatment. When a neurologist is called for treatment, there are symptoms such as:
- Dizziness
- Coordination issues
- Confusion
- Muscle weakness
- Changes in sensation
Sometimes individuals with sensory issues like vision, touch, and smell can require the services of a neurologist as well as these can relate to a nervous system disorder. Some of the more common disorders associated with neurological care include:
- Seizure, i.e., epilepsy
- Headaches, i.e., migraine or cluster headache
- Stroke
- Spinal cord disorders, i.e., autoimmune disorders or inflammatory conditions
- Multiple sclerosis
- Neurodegenerative disorders, i.e., Alzheimer’s or Lou Gehrig’s disease
- Neuromuscular disorders, i.e., myasthenia gravis
- Infections of the nervous system, i.e., brain abscesses, encephalitis, meningitis
The neurology job is a highly specialized profession, albeit exceptionally demanding. The outlook for those hoping to enter this career path is outstanding.
What Are The Benefits Of Being A Neurologist?
The position of a medical professional in the neurology specialty is the most prominent one to hold. It is a complex field that is exceptionally demanding and an industry with a phenomenal outlook well into the future.
Those planning their education around this career path have incredible benefits to look forward to making the hard work and dedication worth the effort.
It is a lot of education and effort, so maybe some students might not agree with that point, but the benefits are great. Find out a few of the advantages associated with becoming a neurologist at https://work.chron.com/advantages-being-neurologist-2316.html. Some we will share here that you will find with this specific specialty include:
Career Diversity
Neurologists have a few different opportunities available to them. Some of these are vascular/stroke/interventional neurology, neuro-ophthalmology, and neurocritical care. These physicians can choose a hospital setting, teaching, academics, consulting, or opt for researching.
High Salary
This might be where students see the most significant benefit for all their hard work and effort. But the natural physicians who are humanitarians have less interest in the salary and are more concerned about the patients’ interests. That does not mean that they do not do well.
The field is exceptionally specialized, meaning that a good practitioner will have a substantial salary. The median salary for a professional in the United States (per the 2008 “Physician Compensation Survey) was as great as $298,500. Look here to see how neurologists, despite their salaries, make a difference.
The Work Offers Challenges
Many brilliant doctors enjoy the idea of being challenged in their work. With the complex nature of neurology, these practitioners face many challenges regularly and appreciate that their field offers the opportunity for their skills to be tested.
There are complicated diagnostics and tough decisions, not to mention the differences they can make in a patient’s life. Improving the overall quality offers immense satisfaction fueling the challenge with all the patients to ensure that goal is met with everyone.
Time Is Flexible
With many physicians, schedules are consistent and tight each day. A neurologist is not so regimented with less of a fixed schedule. There could be a day where intense neuro cases make a long, drawn-out day. Still, then there are days off allowing for rotations between academics, researching, and clinical time, disallowing the possibility of a doctor becoming bored on the job.
No Saturated Job Market
Thus far, the job atmosphere in the neurology field is not saturated. The requirements to enter the field are such that it can be intimidating to consider, with some falling out when it becomes too intense.
It is a competitive industry, but the job opportunities are plentiful, and the suggestion is that the future of the profession will only continue to grow. Those who choose to work in private practice will likely have the best opportunities and also the highest salaries.
They will enjoy a greater sense of flexibility with their workflow since scheduling will fall directly on them. The practitioner can either choose to take a case or pass it to another provider, depending on the circumstances at the time. That is not always possible when you are on contract with a hospital or other medical facility.
Final Thought
Hospitals and other medical facilities strive to get the best neurologists for their sites, making the neurology field exceptionally competitive. That is why the salaries are high, and bonuses and benefits are better in comparison with other physicians.
When employed in a hospital setting, a neuro specialist will often see benefits and malpractice insurance provided by the hospital along with productivity bonuses, not to mention paid time off and health plans all meant as an incentive to join one of these facilities.
Now, these benefits are most certainly worth all the hard work and effort from education to residency to obtaining a position.
