A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating illnesses that affect the nervous system, which comprises the brain, cerebellum, spinal cord, and nerves. There is also a neurosurgeon, a trained doctor, who conducts surgery to treat any diseases related to the nervous system. If you are dealing with any neurological condition that needs management and treatment, below are some factors to consider while finding the right neurologist for your health needs.

Doctor’s recommendations
Most people often have a primary care doctor. If you have one, you can ask for their recommendations regarding a neurologist. The primary care doctor will most likely have a list of neurologists he can refer to that he may have worked with. Other sources include speaking to your friends and family for any recommendations. Add their name to the list and continue with your research.

Education and training
Pay special attention to the neurologist’s credentials and understand where they studied and their training period. If they have the right certifications, you can be sure that they have trained for specific diseases and have the skillset to diagnose and treat your illness.

Experience matters
Apart from the credentials, another essential factor in choosing the right neurologist is their experience. How long have they been treating people, and what kind of cases have they handled? Are they part of any organizations that raise awareness about your condition? Getting answers to these questions will help you find the right and genuine doctor to treat the condition.

Hospital affiliation
If they have been working in this field for years and have handled several complicated cases, it is possible that top hospitals in the area will have them affiliated with their service. This provides another layer of legitimacy and trust that is needed between a doctor and a patient. Check with nearby hospitals if the neurologist is on their list of doctors.

Communication and understanding
Not only are a doctor’s credentials important, but it is also important to know if they are good at communicating with the patient and their family. This is crucial because neurology is a complicated subject, and having a doctor who can answer the important questions relating to the disease calmly and easily adds trust and reliability. When consulting with the doctor, do not hesitate to ask questions. Some of the questions you can ask a neurologist include:

• What kind of side effects can you expect from the treatment suggested?
• Have they treated many patients with similar conditions as yours? How was their experience?
• Are there other alternative treatment options for the condition?
• Are there any recent studies that have provided conclusive insight?
• Can they do online consultations on some days when you cannot travel?

Your questions can be as complicated or easy as you want, don’t be shy.

Location
One of the biggest comforts of having a doctor close by is that they can help during an emergency, especially in neurological conditions which need immediate attention. Needless to say, if you have your neurologist close by, you don’t need to stress about the commute. However, if you can commute to the clinic or a hospital in your own vehicle, that should work too. Do a simple online search, like a “neurologist specialist near me” or “neurologist clinic near me,” and you’ll get the required information. Weigh in your pros and cons before making a decision.

Another aspect to consider is the financial factor. Will your insurance cover the doctor’s fees? Ask about their consultation fee and the charges of the overall treatment, including prescription treatments and healthcare supplies, among others. Also, ask them if they have a diagnostic center. And if they do, can you go ahead with the treatment from the center? Check with your insurance provider about these expenses, get the required details, and make an informed decision.