Rehabilitation Physicians Are Best Able To Do EMG’s
Dr. Bruno’s Original Post: This article explains why you WANT a rehab doc, versus just any neurologist, to do an EMG. But, even if you have a rehab doc, I recommend that you want to make sure that he or she does at least one EMG a week as a bare minimum . . .
Article Summary -
New Study Shows Disparities in EDX Training in Residency Programs
“Results from a 2017 survey shared at the 2018 annual meeting of the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) illustrate significant disparities in the amount of training that neurology and physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) residents receive in electrodiagnostic (EDX) medicine.”
“Our data showed a great difference in how programs teach EDX medicine, including nerve conduction studies (NCSs) and particularly electromyography (EMG). The differences included duration of training in weeks, supervision, independence in performing NCSs and EMG, continuous or fragmented training, the training years of residency, the number of attending physicians teaching the residents, organized conferences, the number of NCSs and needle EMGs performed, and exposure to pathology material,” stated AANEM member Peter D. Donofrio, MD.”
The survey results were as follows:
Average Training Time for EDX:
Neurology Residency Programs: 8.4 weeks (Range 0-52 weeks).
PMR Residency Programs: 21.3 weeks (Range 8-48 weeks).
> Training in needle EMG was required in 94% of programs.
> Performance of the needle examination was observational only in 8% of programs and in 61% of programs the trainee was supervised continuously by faculty.
The findings clearly indicate disparity in the amount of EDX training across residency programs and that PMR residents receive substantially more EDX training. Dr. Donofrio said he was not surprised by the results.”
“The training disparities can have a significant impact on patient care. ‘Probably the biggest impact is in the area of private practice where there are many neurologists out in the community doing EMG with limited training. This does not happen in PMR where all residents are required to be fully trained within their residency – PMR requires 6 months of EMG, neurology requires zero. As a result, neurologists who are interested in neurophysiology and neuromuscular medicine end up receiving their EDX training during their fellowships,’ explained Eric J. Sorenson, MD, and Past President of the AANEM.”