Current status of medical supply for neurological patients at regional clinics

Abstract

The author checked several internet websites of doctor search, as well as, the Survey of doctors, dentists, and pharmacists of Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in 2018, and the Hyogo medical institution information system. It was also reviewed the numbers of patients and their chief complaints or clinical diagnosis who visited the Kusunoki Neurology Clinic, established in 2017. Of the 103,836 clinicians working for regional clinics nationwide, only 531 declared Neurology as their primary. As of the end of October 2019, 172 clinics were found in Hyogo prefecture searched by “Neurology” or “Neurosurgery”. Among them, 63 were Neurosurgeons, 48 Psychiatrists, 32 General physicians, and only 26 Neurologist. In our clinic, which advocates only neurology, 70% of patients visited without referral and the most of them made an appointment through an internet. Headaches were the most common symptom, followed by numbness, or giddiness. Parkinson's disease or syndromes, dementia, and epilepsy were frequent diagnosis. It is necessary to enhance the provide neurology at the regional clinical service.