NEUROLOGICAL CONSULTANT SERVICE IN A GENERAL-HOSPITAL IN A RURAL SETTING

The long-standing consultant service for neurological patients in a ge neral hospital requires questions to about the dimensions and efficien cy of being answered cooperation between a general hospital and a neig hbouring neurological clinic with a casualty ward and neuroradiology. From 1987 to 1995, 1471 patients with neurological diagnoses were obse rved retrospectively. The small number of requested consultancies (4-5 %) was conspicious related to the total member of patients treated in the general hospital. About 25% of the recommendations of the consulta nts were realized. The percentage of pensioners and housewives was dis tinctly higher (45%). With the help of the diagnosis ''concussion of t he brain'' good cooperation was observed between the general physician s to whom the consultant's recommendations had been passed on and the neurological casualty ward. The results, tendencies and possibilities for improvement of interdisciplinary cooperation are discussed.