Good idea.

First I want to say that neuros are limited by the institution they practice at. If all they have is a EMG machine, well, consider another location, regardless of how 'good' the neuro seems.

Which brings me to what a 'bad' neuro is.

Doesn't realize the limitations of where he/she practices and will not refer you elsewhere, but gives you no diagnosis or a half baked one, based on incomplete testing.

Insults you, talks down to you, talks at you.

Insists you take a medication you tell him/her has made you sick in the past.

Pokes you with the same safety pin that he poked every patient with, 'sharp or dull?'

Now a good neuro. Availablility of a good neuro may be more limited. If you see a research neuro, who sees all the 'hard cases' it may take 6 months or longer, and a physician referral to get into see him/her. What we regard as an emergency, he/she may not regard the same way. I think a neuro needs to get back to you within 24 hours, either in person or by his/her RN. Not medical assistant, but case managing RN, who can triage.

A good neuro calls you with results of tests and explains them, and answers your questions, especially if results are abnormal. I don't mind an RN telling me things are normal. If things are abnormal, I know I will have questions the nurse can not answer.

A good neuro tells me what tests are appropriate and if not, why not.

A good neuro listens to my theories, and gives me feed back.

A good neuro doesn't let you leave without a follow up appointment scheduled and future tests scheduled or some one to call you within 48 hours with date and time, or makes sure you have follow up care with a phsycian of your choice and then communicates the findings with that doc.

A good neuro spends time with you depending on the interval between visits. If it has been 6 months in between visits, I expect 20-30 minutes, uninterrupted unless of a serious emergency (which hasn't happened, as the facility I go to, seems to give docs on call and clinic time separately.)

I haven't had to be seen for what I or the neuro considered an emergency, but if I had one, I would expect I would be told to go to the ER, and seen there, or in office the same day. My neuro has told me to call my internal medicine doctor for urgent care, and I feel in all those cases that was appropriate. My neuro does not need to manage my 'migraine-eruption episodes'. If I suddenly lose my ability to walk, have a change in level of consciousness or become incontinent, well that to me is a neuro emergency.

I expect my neuro to refer me to and communicate with my other specialists, and that all disciplines involved view me and my disease a whole, an inter-realted being.

I expect that an effort be made to assist me to live a life that meets my expectations, within the limitations of the disease, but pushing the envelope, that means seeing that I get the latest applicable diagnostics, most appropriate treatments, adaptive devices and durable medical goods, pain management that works and support, so I can be the most productive and fulfilled human being....even it that takes some wrangling with the insurance company.

I expect that they expect that I do my best to achieve the above.

I expect humane honesty and admission of what is known and unknown.

I expect and have gotten the same level of care from my GI. Other clinics within the same system have not given me the same level of care, but most have been reasonable.

I have been in other systems where none of the 'good' happened, and all of the 'bad' happened.

I do consider myself fortunate right now.