Pearl Phillip L, McConnell Emily R, Fernandez Rosamary, Brooks-Kayal Amy
Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Professors of Child Neurology National Office, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Pediatr Neurol. 2014 Sep;51(3):344-7. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2014.05.028. Epub 2014 Jun 4.
The optimal academic home for child neurology programs between adult neurology versus pediatric departments remains an open question. The Professors of Child Neurology, the national organization of child neurology department chairs, division chiefs, and training program directors, was surveyed to evaluate the placement of child neurology programs.
Professors of Child Neurology members were surveyed regarding the placement of child neurology programs within adult neurology versus pediatric departments. Questions explored academic versus clinical lines of reporting and factors that may be advantages and disadvantages of these affiliations. Issues also addressed were the current status of board certification and number of clinics expected in academic child neurology departments.
Of 120 surveys sent, 95 responses were received (79% response rate). The primary academic affiliation is in neurology in 54% of programs versus 46% in pediatrics, and the primary clinical affiliation is 45% neurology and 55% pediatrics. Advantages versus disadvantages of one's primary affiliation were similar whether the primary affiliation was in neurology or pediatrics. While 61% of respondents are presently board certified in pediatrics, only 2% of those with time-limited certification in general pediatrics plan to be recertified going forward. Typically six to eight half-day clinics per week are anticipated for child neurologists in academic departments without additional funding sources.
Overall, leaders of child neurology departments and training programs would not change their affiliation if given the opportunity. Advantages and disadvantages associated with current affiliations did not change whether child neurology was located in neurology or pediatrics. Board certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in child neurology is virtually universal, whereas pediatric board certification by the American Board of Pediatrics is being maintained by very few. Most academic child neurology programs expect 3-4 days of full-time clinics by full-time faculty.
儿童神经病学项目在成人神经病学部门与儿科部门之间的最佳学术归属仍是一个悬而未决的问题。对儿童神经病学教授组织（一个由儿童神经病学系主任、科室主任和培训项目主任组成的全国性组织）进行了调查，以评估儿童神经病学项目的归属情况。
就儿童神经病学项目在成人神经病学部门与儿科部门中的归属情况对儿童神经病学教授组织的成员进行了调查。问题探讨了学术与临床汇报线路以及这些附属关系可能存在的优缺点。还涉及的问题包括儿童神经病学学术部门的委员会认证现状以及预期开设的诊所数量。
共发出120份调查问卷，收到95份回复（回复率为79%）。54%的项目主要学术归属为神经病学，46%归属儿科；主要临床归属方面，45%为神经病学，55%为儿科。无论主要归属是神经病学还是儿科，其主要附属关系的优缺点相似。虽然61%的受访者目前拥有儿科委员会认证，但在普通儿科拥有限期认证的人中，只有2%计划未来重新认证。在没有额外资金来源的学术部门，预计儿童神经科医生每周通常会有六到八个半天的门诊。
总体而言，儿童神经病学系和培训项目的负责人如果有机会，不会改变他们的归属。无论儿童神经病学位于神经病学部门还是儿科部门，当前附属关系的优缺点都没有改变。美国精神病学和神经病学委员会对儿童神经病学的委员会认证几乎是普遍的，而美国儿科学会的儿科委员会认证只有极少数人维持。大多数学术儿童神经病学项目预计全职教员每周有3 - 4天的全职门诊。
