Neurology

During this rotation, residents should develop an approach to the following conditions:

•  Performance of the neurological examination 

• Localization of Neurological Problems 

• Lumbar puncture 

• Investigation and management of seizure disorder 

• Investigation and management of TIA and acute stroke

• Investigation and management of peripheral neuropathy 

• Investigation and management of muscle weakness including myopathy 

• Investigation and management of coma 

• Investigation and management of dementia 

• Investigation and management of multiple sclerosis 

• Central nervous system infection 

• Investigation and Management of the Dizzy Patient 

• Migraine and other headache syndromes 

• Lumbar, cervical disk syndromes 

• Parkinson's Disease 

• Brain Tumours 

• Increased Intracranial Pressure 

• Guillain-Barre Syndrome 

• Acute Spinal Cord Compression 

• Myasthenia Gravis 

Updated August 2025

By the end of this rotation, residents will be graded as “progressing as expected” in each of the following and in the Global Rating.  The expected level of performance in the PGY1 year is Interpreter level,  PGY2 is Manager Level, PGY3 is Educator Level (See Program Information - Overall Goals and Objectives). 

1. Medical Expert

• Data Collection and Clinical Reasoning: The resident appropriately collects and synthesizes clinical information to formulate a primary diagnosis and appropriate differential diagnosis.

• Clinical Decision Making: The resident is able to make appropriate and cost-effective investigation and management decisions based on the context of the case and best available evidence.

2. Communicator

• Patient and Family Communication: The resident communicates with and about patients and family in a patient-centered manner.

• Documentation and Verbal Presentation: The resident appropriately documents and verbally presents cases for new admissions, progress notes, handover of care, and discharge summaries (succinctly organized, prioritized, summarized).

3. Collaborator

• Interdisciplinary Team: The resident works well in a team, shares work, and interacts with allied healthcare providers and other consultants effectively.

4. Leader

• Efficiency: The resident prioritizes tasks and manages time effectively.

5. Health Advocate

• Patient Advocacy: The resident advocates for patients by obtaining/expediting investigations, consults, or access to other resources during inpatient care or during transition to the outpatient setting.

6. Scholar

• Personal and Team-based Learning:  The resident demonstrates an effective personal learning strategy (reading around cases, appropriate use of resources) and shares knowledge with other team members.

7. Professional

• Scope of Practice:  The resident is trustworthy and responsible, knows limitations (asks for help appropriately), and responds well to feedback.

Assessment

We use the following In-Training Evaluation Report (ITER): 

• Ward Junior

Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs)

This rotation is done during Core of the Discipline and is an ideal learning environment for the following EPAs:

• CD1: Assessing, diagnosing and managing patients with complex or atypical acute medical presentations

• CD2: Assessing, diagnosing, and managing patients with complex chronic diseases

• CD3: Providing internal medicine consultation to other clinical services

• CD5: Performing the procedures of Internal Medicine

  • Lumbar puncture

• CD7: Discussing serious and/or complex aspects of care with patients, families, and caregivers

  • Breaking Bad News

• CD8: Caring for patients who have experienced a patient safety incident (adverse event) (e.g. Missed stroke, or mismanaged stroke)

• CD10: Implementing health promotion strategies in patients with or at risk for disease

  • E.g. Vascular risk reduction

Rotation Supervisor

Dr. Trevor Steve

tsteve@ualberta.ca

Medical Education Program Coordinator

medneuro@ualberta.ca