Comprehensive Neurology
The Division of Comprehensive Neurology is dedicated to delivering exceptional neurological care through a collaborative, patient-centered approach. The division integrates clinical expertise, academic rigor, and a commitment to innovation to meet the complex needs of patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Our vision is to be a leader in comprehensive neurological care by integrating clinical excellence, education, and research. We strive to create an environment that promotes resilience, active listening, and a culture of innovation to improve outcomes for patients and families.
Clinical Services
Hospital Care
General Neurology Inpatient Care and Consultations
Inpatient neurological care is delivered by a dedicated team of neuro-hospitalists and resident physicians, ensuring timely, expert evaluation and management of acute and complex neurological conditions.
Outpatient Care
Comprehensive Neurology Clinics
Outpatient clinics provide initial evaluations and longitudinal management of complex neurological disorders, with close collaboration among neurology subspecialty clinics and other medical disciplines.
Types of Clinics
This clinic delivers coordinated, patient-centered care through close collaboration between physicians and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs). Physicians and APPs work together to conduct comprehensive evaluations, manage complex neurological conditions longitudinally, and ensure timely follow-up. The model emphasizes shared decision-making, continuity of care, and efficient access to neurological expertise.
The Resident Clinic Service provides comprehensive neurological care while serving as a core educational environment for neurology residents. Under close supervision by experienced attending neurologists, residents conduct new patient evaluations and longitudinal follow-up visits for a broad range of neurological disorders. The clinic emphasizes the development of clinical reasoning, diagnostic expertise, and patient-centered management, with progressive resident autonomy balanced by direct faculty oversight.
This APP-led teleneurology clinic delivers timely, evidence-based neurological care to individuals within the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction through secure telemedicine. APPs perform comprehensive neurological evaluations, manage acute and chronic neurological conditions, coordinate diagnostic testing, and provide longitudinal follow-up. This model prioritizes access, continuity, and quality, ensuring a gold-standard, patient-centered approach while addressing the unique medical and logistical needs of the correctional setting.
The Neurocutaneous Disorders Clinic provides specialized, multidisciplinary care for patients with neurological conditions associated with prominent skin manifestations. The clinic focuses on diagnosis, longitudinal management, and coordination of care for disorders such as neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis complex, Sturge Weber syndrome, vascular malformations, and other neurocutaneous syndromes. Care emphasizes comprehensive neurological assessment, surveillance for disease-related complications, and close collaboration with dermatology, genetics, ophthalmology, neurosurgery, and other subspecialties, with a strong focus on individualized, patient- and family-centered care across the lifespan.
The Transition Clinic provides structured, developmentally appropriate care for patients aged 18–25 with epilepsy, neurocutaneous, and neurogenetic disorders transitioning from pediatric to adult neurological care. The clinic is designed to ensure continuity of care and prevent lapses during this critical transition period. Providers emphasize patient autonomy, self-management skills, and shared decision-making while supporting medication adherence, surveillance for disease-related complications, and coordination with relevant subspecialties.
The Neurology Dietitian Clinic provides specialized nutritional assessment and counseling to support the management of neurological diseases through evidence-based dietary strategies. The clinic focuses on optimizing nutrition to support neurological function, manage symptoms, prevent complications, and enhance quality of life. Dietitians conduct comprehensive evaluations addressing caloric and protein needs, weight management, micronutrient deficiencies, dysphagia, metabolic risk factors, and disease-specific dietary considerations. Care prioritizes nutritional support in neurodegenerative diseases, cardiometabolic risk reduction in cerebrovascular and neuropathic conditions, and targeted interventions such as weight management for idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
The Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner Clinic provides specialized medication management for patients with complex neurological conditions, including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory polyneuropathies, myasthenia gravis, and myopathies. Within a collaborative care model, CPPs conduct comprehensive medication reviews, initiate and adjust therapies, and provide longitudinal monitoring to optimize safety and efficacy. The clinic emphasizes individualized therapy selection, dose optimization, management of adverse effects, minimization of drug interactions, and patient and caregiver education. CPPs also facilitate access to specialty medications and assist with insurance and prior authorization processes to ensure seamless continuity of care.
Procedure Services
The division offers a range of outpatient neurological procedures, including:
A lumbar puncture is a medical test where a procedurist carefully places a small, clean needle into the lower back to collect some of the fluid around the brain and spine. This helps doctors check for problems in the brain or spinal cord. It can also be used to lower pressure in the head or to give medicine directly into this fluid.
This is a simple medical procedure where a procedurist injects a small amount of numbing medicine, sometimes mixed with a steroid, near the nerves at the back of the head. This helps block pain signals. It is often used to help people with headaches like occipital neuralgia or migraines. It can give pain relief that lasts for a short or moderate amount of time.
This is a treatment to help prevent migraines. A procedurist gives small injections in certain muscles of the head and neck about every 12 weeks. These shots help stop some of the pain signals, which can make migraines happen less often and make them less severe.
This is a treatment where a procedurist injects a small amount of numbing medicine into a tight or painful muscle knot called a trigger point. This helps relax the muscle, reduce pain, and make movement easier. It is often used for muscle pain in the neck, back, or for headaches caused by tense muscles.
This is a simple procedure where a procedurist takes very small pieces of skin to check the tiny nerves in it. This helps determine if a person has a problem called small fiber neuropathy. With special testing, the skin samples can also show certain proteins, which can help diagnose conditions like Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy.
Education
Education is a cornerstone of the Comprehensive Neurology Service. Physicians in training and medical students are fully integrated into all aspects of patient care, including inpatient services and outpatient clinics. Their involvement ensures exposure to a diverse spectrum of neurological conditions, development of clinical and procedural skills under expert supervision, and cultivation of a culture of inquiry and continuous learning. By investing in education, the division fosters a dynamic academic environment where learners contribute meaningfully to patient care while preparing for future leadership roles in neurology. Learn more about UNC Neurology Education ProgramPatient Appointment Information
The Comprehensive Neurology Service does not provide functional capacity evaluations, disability determinations, medicolegal consultation, or narcotic pain management.
To request a consult, please have your provider contact our referral service to schedule an appointment.