2023 November AANnews

VOLUME 35 · ISSUE 11 · NOVEMBER 2023

2024 ANNUAL MEETING REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! Come together with your global neurology community at the 2024 AAN Annual Meeting, taking place in Denver—and online—from April 13 to April 18.

Whether you join us in person or from the comfort of your home, the largest neurology gathering of the year is not to be missed! Top-tier education, the latest breaking science, serendipitous connections, and exciting discussions with neurology’s brightest minds await you at the Annual Meeting. Visit AAN.com/AM to learn more and to secure your spot. 

Annual Meeting Denver and Online • April 13–18

AAN.com/AM

It’s Time to Renew Your Membership for 2024

How International Efforts Built Stronger Academy

Renew your AAN membership today at AAN.com/MemberDues so you can go into the new year with uninterrupted access to the highest quality resources from the world’s largest and most trusted community of neurology professionals. Your robust AAN membership benefits package is valued at up to $4,000 and comes with access to top-quality education, research, networking, and more.

The AAN has grown steadily since its launch one chilly spring in Minneapolis, MN. The upstart society—founded as the demand for neurologists grew post-World War II, and young professionals itched for new ways to connect—now boasts some 40,000 members, nearly a quarter of whom are based outside the US. The AAN’s reach becomes even clearer at its vibrant Annual Meetings, where approximately 30 percent of attendees are international.

Continued on page 8

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While the Academy’s founders always anticipated international involvement, such wide, explosive growth would have been a bold prediction 75 years ago. Leaders involved say the organization’s reach is a major reason for its status as a leader in neurology.

For international neurologists, AAN membership conveys prestige and—owing to invaluable resources like Neurology ® and Continuum®—up-to-date scientific knowledge, said Antonio Culebras, MD, FAAN, FAHA, FAASM. For the Continued on page 6

8 See Your Photos from the Legislative Summit and Brain Health Summit!

9 Register for Residency

In-service Training Examination

by December 8

10 Apply Now for Editor-in-

Chief Role at Brain & Life

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AANnews · November 2023

November Highlights The Mission of the AAN is to promote the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care and enhance member career satisfaction.

The Vision of the AAN is to be indispensable to our members.

Contact Information American Academy of Neurology 201 Chicago Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone: (800) 879-1960 (toll free) (612) 928-6000 (international) Email:

memberservices@aan.com

Website: AAN.com For advertising rates, contact: Sharon Ames Sr. Account/Relationship Executive Wolters Kluwer Phone:

(516) 993-7800

Email:

sharon.ames @wolterskluwer.com

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New Guidance Provides ‘Rigorous, Structured’ Approach for Brain Death Determination

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Meet Your New Board Member: Paul M. George, MD, PhD, FAAN

The AAN, working with three other medical associations, has issued updated, standardized guidance for determining brain death in both adults and children.

George, a physician-scientist, shares his enthusiasm for the science of neurology— and how it leads to better patient care.

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Study Demonstrates Axon Registry Data Is Representative of National Neurology Data

A recent study published in Neurology ® explores patient demographics, provider location, and neurologic procedures in comparison with two nationally representative databases.

News Briefs AAN Chief Executive Officer: Mary E. Post, MBA, CAE

Editor-in-Chief: Melissa W. Ko, MD, MBA, CPE, FAAN Managing Editor: Angela M. Babb, MS, CAE, APR Editor: Val Lick Writers: Ryan Knoke and Sarah Parsons Designer: Siu Lee Email: aannews@aan.com AANnews® is published monthly by the American Academy of Neurology for its 40,000 members worldwide. Access this magazine and other AAN publications online at AAN.com.

The American Academy of Neurology ’s registered trademarks and service marks are registered in the United States and various other countries around the world.

“American Brain Foundation” is a registered service mark of the American Brain Foundation and is registered in the United States.

The inclusion of advertisements and/or promotions of Sponsors and other Internet sites or resources that offer content, goods, or services on the Website does not imply endorsement of the advertised/promoted products or services by AAN.

Summer Conference Evaluations Thirty-nine percent of AAN Summer Conference attendees filled out a program evaluation and 17 percent filled out an overall conference evaluation. The Summer Conference was a highly successful event, with nearly all—96 percent—rating the overall conference as excellent or good.

Across the programs, 80 percent rated the quality of each program as excellent. More than three quarters of attendees said that they will make changes because of the programs, and an impressive 94 percent said they would recommend the conference to a colleague.

Compensation Dashboard The AAN’s 2023 Neurology Compensation and Productivity dashboard is available. The new dashboard provides easy-to-use filters and new data on practicing in the full-time telehealth model and delivering care in the inpatient setting. Any neurology professional can access this dashboard.

Members who did not participate in the survey can access the data for only $500, saving $1,000 compared to the nonmember rate.

Neurology on the Hill Applications are open for Neurology on the Hill, which will take place next year from February 25 to February 27. Apply or encourage your colleagues to apply for this opportunity to educate members of Congress on the biggest issues facing neurology today. Applications close on November 21. 

PRESIDENT'S COLUMN We Are Investing in Delivering Greater Value to You— Our AAN Members

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Your Academy continues to focus on delivering greater value to our members. One way we are doing this is by making investments in technology that will improve the online member experience—improvements that are based on hearing directly from you about your expectations and preferences, identifying gaps in our offerings, and ensuring we continue to meet your needs.

These exciting investments are anchored to the AAN’s new education vision, which calls for content that is easy to find, easy to use, and tailored to the user. They contribute to this vision in overarching ways—such as making sure you can find all of our resources on a topic with a quick search—as well as in ways that just make your life a little easier, like being able to start an education course on your phone and finish it on your tablet.

To get to this point, we worked with a leading continuing education strategy consultant to assess the market, collect information from interviews with our leaders, surveys of our members, as well as from our data on which products are resonating with members now.

We are doubling down and prioritizing being a digital-first organization. As we visit your clinics and offices around the world, we’ve heard a clear message about the importance of delivering content to you in short, digestible bites that are easier to take in during the precious free moments in your busy day— in addition to the high-quality in-depth content we’ve always delivered. We’re aiming to provide a menu of options. Just as sometimes you’re grabbing a snack on the run and other times you can linger over a full meal—sometimes you simply want to watch a quick video on a new therapy, while other times you can lean back with an hourlong course on advances in a topic outside your area of expertise.

I want to give you an overview of what is in store for you as a member as we continue to improve your online experiences.

As always, your interest and engagement with the AAN remain our top priority.

We’ve just launched a new system for managing all of our online education offerings. Among the many new features, I think you will appreciate the improved search functionality; enhanced video capabilities, including automatic captioning and ability to bookmark videos; and the ability to start a course on one device and pick up right where you left off when you go to another device.

Next spring, we will launch a new customer relationship management system that will allow the AAN to deliver a more personalized experience to you on our website, through emails we send to you, and in many other ways. For example, we can provide suggestions for education offerings based on your practice and interests. Don’t forget to log in to AAN.com so you can see information that’s of most interest to you—right now and to a much greater extent coming soon!

We heard your feedback on the sometimes-clunky experience with our online conference platform. This summer we debuted a new platform for the Summer Conference that we will continue to

improve for our conferences going forward.

The new platform integrates the mobile and online platform experiences, providing a seamless experience for attendees.

For our Neurology ® family of journals, we are investing in a best-in-class platform that will allow us to pull together all Jackson the articles on a topic from any journal, along with related media, such as podcasts, blogs, and survey results. These resource centers will bring together information on diseases and other topics, such as global health, emerging trends, and health disparities.

One set of digital-first offerings we have invested in for years are our great podcasts—we’re issuing eight each week wherever you get your podcasts through Neurology, Neurology Minute™, Neurology Today®, and Brain & Life®. Soon, Continuum® Audio, one of our most invaluable tools for busy neurologists, will be even easier to access as a podcast.

We are exploring a larger initiative to create a universal taxonomy and upgraded search function across the AAN’s content. While this would be a significant effort and investment, we believe that the benefit of allowing members to quickly and easily find the relevant information will be well worth the effort.

We are also jumping on the digital-first bandwagon with this publication. Next month will be our last print issue, but we will continue to deliver the latest highlights from the AAN to you twice a month in your AANe-news™ email newsletter, or you can find them on AAN.com. If you aren’t checking out AANe-news, you should take a look. It covers what you need to know from the Academy, straight to your inbox.

Finally, I am transitioning this column into a shorter format that you can take in more quickly each month—60-second videos where I’ll be highlighting the latest updates on your Academy. In fact, this month I’m serving up both the snack and the full meal!

Please scan the QR code above to see my first President’s Spotlight video! 

Carlayne E. Jackson, MD, FAAN President, AAN cjackson@aan.com @CarlayneJackson on Twitter

AANnews • November 2023

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ADVOCACY Leaders Plan for Brighter Brain Future at AAN Brain Health Summit The summit brought together professional medical societies, patient-centric associations, policymakers, and more as the AAN shared its vision for national brain health by 2050. 

AAN Advocates Take the Hill at 2023 Legislative Summit A select group of AAN leaders met in DC to educate their members of Congress on some of the key issues facing neurology today. Learn more about the summit by reading Capitol Hill Report on page 25! 

PRACTICE New Guidance Provides ‘Rigorous, Structured’ Approach for Brain Death Determination Clinicians can now access updated, standardized guidance on the determination of brain death, also known as death by neurologic criteria. The AAN, in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Child Neurology Society (CNS), and the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), issued the new consensus practice guideline in the October 11, 2023, online issue of Neurology®.

It updates the 2010 AAN adult practice guidelines and the 2011 AAP/CNS/SCCM pediatric practice guidelines on the determination of brain death. Because of a lack of high-quality evidence on the subject, the experts used an evidenceinformed consensus process to develop the guideline.

“Until now, there have been two separate guidelines for determining brain death, one for adults and one for children,” said author Matthew P. Kirschen, MD, PhD, FAAN. “This update integrates guidance for adults and children into a single guideline, providing clinicians with a comprehensive and practical way to

evaluate someone who has sustained a catastrophic brain injury to determine if they meet the criteria for brain death.”

clinicians through the process of brain death evaluation. You can access it for free at AAN.com/practice/guidelines.

The consensus practice guideline outlines the standardized procedure for trained clinicians to evaluate people for brain death, which includes an evaluation to determine whether there is any clinical functioning of the brain and brainstem.

It includes updates on the prerequisites for brain death determination, the examination and the examiners, apnea testing and ancillary testing.

“Right now, brain death determination policies vary among hospitals across the US and worldwide, and a standardized approach is necessary,” said author Ariane Lewis, MD, FAAN. “This guideline provides a highly rigorous and structured approach to brain death evaluation and determination. It is recommended that hospital administrators ensure that their hospital’s brain death determination policies are updated to be consistent with this new guideline.” 

As part of the guideline, a digital application has been developed to walk

MEMBERSHIP Meet Your New Board Member: Paul M. George, MD, PhD, FAAN Paul M. George, MD, PhD, FAAN, serves on the faculty at Stanford University as a vascular neurologist in the Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences. He is a physician-scientist focused on caring for neurology patients and improving neural recovery therapies. As faculty, he helped create a multi-disciplinary stroke recovery clinic at Stanford.

How did you initially get involved as a volunteer member for the AAN?

neurology has me excited to be a part of the AAN’s board.

As I was finishing my fellowship, I was lucky enough to participate in the initial class of the AAN’s Emerging Leaders program. In addition to the leadership training, I learned about the many efforts of the AAN to advance neurology and the numerous activities of the AAN. Upon completion of the AAN Leadership Program, I joined the Science Committee and since then have been fortunate to participate in many roles throughout the organization.

What experiences and viewpoints do you bring to this role?

Why did you wish to be on the Board of Directors?

I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to be involved with the organization that represents the field of neurology. Being able to contribute to efforts that advance our field in the areas of brain health equity, diversity, advocacy, and the science of

George

As a physician-scientist, I appreciate the amazing advances that are currently occurring in neurology. Our ability to better understand and interact with the nervous system in health and disease is constantly evolving. I am excited to work with the AAN to provide the resources to its members so that these discoveries lead to improved patient care. Given the AAN’s position serving all of neurology, I also look forward to helping create critical initiatives to ensure that our field benefits from a diverse community of providers. Lastly, I am excited to contribute as the AAN develops programs to ensure that all neurologic patients are equally able to benefit from the latest, cutting-edge neurologic care. 

AANnews • November 2023

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MEMBERSHIP How International Efforts Built Stronger Academy continued from cover Academy and its US members, the benefits of international involvement include access to diverse knowledge and research.

“There is room and need for international affairs,” said Culebras, a former secretary of the AAN whose work is evident in decades of outreach around the world. The Madrid-born physician and lecturer chaired the AAN’s former International Affairs Committee and dealt with delicate issues of foreign policy such as the AAN’s 1994 recommendation that the US end the Cuban embargo amid an epidemic of optic and peripheral neuropathy attacking the Cuban population—a condition that could be treated with prompt access to vitamins and nutritious food. At the request of the International Affairs Committee and of Gustavo Román, MD, FAAN, who had studied the epidemic in situ, then-AAN president Jack P. Whisnant, MD, FAAN, wrote a letter to US President Clinton requesting the end of the embargo. The embargo on nutritional and medical supplies remained in place despite the AAN’s urging, but Culebras said its efforts still resonate. He recounted a moment at the 1995 Seventh Pan-American Congress on Epilepsy in Havana: “I told the Cubans at the meeting, during the opening session, that the Academy had supported stopping the embargo. And it was a very emotional moment. They felt that the Academy was a supporter of the Cuban population, and they still do,” Culebras said.

Culebras also directed a trendsetting series of AAN courses in Spanish starting in 1984, which were held on a biannual basis for nearly two decades and provided an unprecedented opportunity to connect with neurologists from across the Americas. While the series itself ended, the AAN continues to offer courses and talks in Spanish at its Annual Meetings.

education, which has always been valued for its excellence, we have a growing slate of initiatives for neurologists across the world.”

Examples of the AAN’s modern-day global outreach include International Scholarship Awards that allow early-career neurologists to attend the Annual Meeting, partnership with the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) to provide Continuum to neurologists in over 40 countries with limited resources, participation in the WFN’s international activities like World Brain Day, and collaboration with other associations including the European Academy of Neurology (EAN). The AAN lends a helping hand to members in times of international crisis—and in turn, benefits from evolving international research such as in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the organization—and neurology as a whole—continues to evolve, the AAN’s Global Strategy Subcommittee plans to keep supporting the needs of members across all regions of the world, leading the direction for the AAN’s response to global conflict in partnership with the AAN Board of Directors, and working hard to build partnerships and strengthen relationships with international and regional neurology societies.

“What happens abroad makes a difference here, and working together—especially on health issues—is critically important for us,” Avitzur said. “We are one world at the end of the day, and it is imperative that we work together on behalf of global neurology—and learn from each other.” 

“The success of the courses should be measured not in the number of registrants attending each event, which never exceeded a hundred, but in the change of attitudes of Spanishspeaking neurologists who until then had seen the Academy as a forbidding fort,” Culebras said.

As evidenced by the AAN’s strong international membership, the organization remains a prominent voice in neurology across the world, with members living in more than 140 countries.

“We provide richer resources and offerings than one can imagine,” said Orly Avitzur, MD, MBA, FAAN, immediate past president of the AAN and current chair of the Global Strategies Subcommittee.

“Besides our science and From left: Committee on Public Engagement Chair David A. Evans, AAN Past President Orly Avitzur, WFN President Wolfgang Grisold, EAN President Paul Boon, and AAN President Elect Natalia S. Rost discuss the future of brain health at the 2023 AAN Annual Meeting.

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AANnews • November 2023

Leadership Program Changes Graduate’s Practice, Efficiency— and Well-being “When I received information regarding the AAN’s new Practice Leadership Program in 2017, I had recently transitioned from a partnership position with a very large private practice neurology group to a three-person practice,” said Katherine Coerver, MD, a behavioral neurologist at Littleton Adventist Hospital in Lonetree, CO. “I was struggling with the best way to adapt to the changes in my professional life and hoped that this program focused on solo and small group practices as opposed to academic practices might provide some guidance.”

Because the AAN designed its Practice Leadership Program to provide high-quality training with the specific intent of helping solo and small practitioners better manage their practices and lead staff, Coerver felt she’d found exactly what she was looking for. “I was not disappointed,” she said.

had a special interest in the new therapies being developed for Alzheimer’s disease.

In these groups, I was able to ensure that the unique concerns of private practitioners regarding these new therapies were addressed.”

“The PLP not only provided resources and tools to help me critically access my practice but also determine ways to help improve the business aspects of my work. It also allowed me to develop contacts with a variety of other neurologists across the country, so I had a support network to address the ongoing challenges in the ever-changing world of medicine.”

Armed with new skills and achievements, Coerver was in an ideal position to pass along all she had learned and experienced so others could benefit from her wisdom. She now serves as a mentor to new classes of the Practice Leadership Program. “This privilege allows me to continue to develop alternative approaches to the variety of problems faced by private practitioners and hopefully help a new generation of neurologists optimize their practices,” she said.

The benefits of these practical changes extended beyond the management aspects of Coerver’s practice into efficiency—and even well-being. “With a more efficient practice, I was able to determine better ways to deliver care to my patients, which in turn has helped me to improve my skills as a doctor and avoid burnout. These changes also helped me to reshape my practice, including pursuing opportunities to participate in clinical trials.”

Coerver is also quick to point out that the lessons and skills she learned in the Practice Leadership Program also provided opportunities that extended beyond her three-person practice.

“The program helped me to realize that the AAN valued the opinions of all neurologists, including those in private practice.

As a result of my participation in the program, I have served on the AAN’s Coding and Payment Policy Subcommittee (COPAY) which allows me to help determine the best ways to educate all AAN members regarding the challenges of accurate coding and developing good relationships with payers. My participation in COPAY has in turn led to involvement with many work groups regarding anti-amyloid therapies. As a behavioral neurologist, I

Coerver

Added Coerver, “My participation in the Practice Leadership Program helped to change my practice in more ways than I ever anticipated. I anticipate that the benefits of my participation will continue to grow as my career continues to evolve.”

To learn more about the AAN Practice Leadership Program, visit AAN.com/lead. 

The 2022–2023 AAN Practice Leadership Program was supported in part by: argenx Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease Cerevel Therapeutics

Free Synapse Mobile App Lets You Connect with Others in Your Area of Interest Did you know that by joining an AAN Section—which includes free access to associated SynapseSM Member Communities and the Synapse mobile app—you can lend your voice to timely discussions and share ideas and concerns with other AAN members from around the globe who are in your subspecialty or share your interests? Joining is a free benefit of your AAN membership. Don’t miss out on the timely conversations on the latest health care topics going on right now—visit AAN.com/membership/sections to learn more and to download the app today! 

AAN Member Communities

AANnews • November 2023

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MEMBERSHIP It’s Time to Renew Your Membership for 2024 continued from cover Benefits of your AAN membership include: Get your essential education through 350+ online courses, videos, and exams Stay abreast of the latest treatment advances with the industry’s top scientific resources, including Neurology®, the most widely read, peer-reviewed neurology journal Provide the most up-to-date care using the most trusted AAN clinician and patient practice guidelines Save 30% or more on industry-leading and careerstrengthening in-person and virtual conferences Exchange diverse insight and ideas among 40,000 colleagues from 140 countries representing all facets and subspecialties through more than 60 SynapseSM Member Communities Have your most pressing interests represented at the US federal and state levels (US only)

Visit AAN.com/membership/member-benefits to see all the ways your membership provides the resources you need to succeed! For more information, contact AAN Member Services at memberservices@aan.com, (800) 879-1960, or (612) 928-6000 (international). 

DATES & DEADLINES November

December

January

November 2

December 1

January 1

Application Deadline: AAN Awards AAN.com/Awards

November 2

Application Available: UCNS Interventional Neurology Certification Examination Application UCNS.org/INcertification

Application Deadline: AAN Health Care Equity Program AAN.com/research/ health-care-equity-program

December 4

November 21

December 8

Application Deadline: Neurology on the Hill AAN.com/events/neurology-on-the-hill

Emerging Science Abstracts Submissions Open AAN.com/AMAbstracts

AANnews • November 2023

January 18

2024 Annual Meeting Early Registration Deadline AAN.com/AM

January 24

Registration Deadline: RITE AAN.com/RITE

Emerging Science Abstract Submission Deadline AAN.com/AMAbstracts

December 31

January 31

®

Renew Your Membership Dues Stay Connected with Your Community AAN.com/Dues

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Application Available: UCNS Headache Medicine Certification Examination UCNS.org/HMcertification

Application Deadline: UCNS Subspecialty Fellowship Program Accreditation UCNS.org/Accreditation

EDUCATION Register for Residency In-service Training Examination by December 8 Visit AAN.com/RITE by December 8 to register for the upcoming AAN RITE® (Residency In-service Training Examination), which gauges knowledge of neurology and neuroscience while identifying areas for potential growth.

The 2024 exam will take place from February 8 to February 13. Residents will continue to take the RITE online, using the same web-based delivery platform used since 2021, in a proctored environment where institutions set their own testing environment and associated guidelines. Based on feedback, exam dates span two calendar weeks to better enable programs and residents to handle coverage of regular duties during the exam period.

To make your institution’s registration process as smooth as possible, it is recommended that program directors

ensure residents’ AAN membership status, email contact information, and all program information are up to date. If you are unsure of the status of your residents or program information, email Member Services at memberservices@aan.com.

All communication about the RITE will be sent to the email addresses on file.

Free AAN member resources like NeuroSAE® and NeuroReady ®: Board Prep can help residents improve their test-taking abilities; however, they do not guarantee a higher score on the RITE. Visit AAN.com/education/online-learningprograms to learn more.

Contact theRITE@aan.com for more information and special pricing for bulk purchases on NeuroReady: Board Prep. 

Key Dates and Deadlines Registration Closes: December 8, 2023 Cancellation Deadline: December 15, 2023 RITE Exam Dates: February 8–13, 2024 Score Reports Available: Early April 2024

January 31 Is Deadline to Apply for Subspecialty Fellowship Program Accreditation The deadline to submit applications for subspecialty fellowship programs seeking United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS) accreditation is January 31 for spring 2024 review.

Applications received by this date will be notified of their accreditation determination no later than June 1, 2024.

The UCNS now accredits programs in 10 neurologic subspecialties. Accreditation is a measure of training program excellence, and UCNS-accredited programs demonstrate that they meet the standards of graduate medical education excellence set by both the UCNS and relevant subspecialty experts. The peer-reviewed accreditation process is overseen by the Accreditation Council, a standing committee reporting to the UCNS Board of Directors.

Visit UCNS.org/Accreditation to learn more and to apply by January 31. For questions about submitting a new application or accessing your existing account, contact Amanda Carpenter at acarpenter@ucns.org. 

Educating the public on neurology and brain health.

Episodes available weekly wherever you get your podcasts!

BrainandLife.org/Podcast

PUBLICATIONS Apply Now for Editor-in-Chief Role at Brain & Life Brain & Life®, the AAN’s award-winning magazine for neurology patients and caregivers, is looking for a new editor-in-chief—and the search is underway now. AAN members can apply until January 2, 2024.

Current Brain & Life Editor-in-Chief Orly Avitzur, MD, MBA, FAAN, ends her 10-year term on December 31, 2024. The selected candidate will serve a five-year term from January 1, 2025, until December 31, 2030, along with a transition period starting October 1, 2024. Reappointment for up to five additional years is also possible. This position is compensated and requires a time commitment of eight to twelve hours per month.

The editor-in-chief sets the future editorial vision and provides both medical expertise and editorial oversight for the magazine, leading it in a time of transition from print to digital publishing while continuing its strong tradition of patient-centered education and quality.

Interested members can review the full job description at AAN.com/BrainandLifeEIC and submit applications to Patricia K. Baskin, MS, senior director of publications, at pbaskin@aan.com. Finalists will be interviewed at the AAN’s Annual Meeting in Denver on Sunday, April 14.

Brain & Life is a trusted source of education on all neurologic conditions and brain health. The public can access valuable information and resources through the Brain & Life and Brain & Life en Espanol magazines, BrainandLife.org, Brain & Life Books, and the Brain & Life Podcast. 

Study Demonstrates Axon Registry Data Is Representative of National Neurology Data A recent study published in Neurology® found that de-identified Axon Registry® data demonstrates high concordance with two nationally representative databases, the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). The retrospective, cross-sectional observational study compared both person and visit-level US data across the following domains: patient demographics, provider location, patient neurologic conditions, and neurologic procedures.

The visit-level analysis found that patient demographics in the three data sets were similar. The notable difference was that the Axon Registry data set contains an older population than the NAMCS and MEPS data sets. In the analysis of geographic location of neurology visits, the Axon Registry had proportionally fewer neurology visits in the Western Census Bureau region than in MEPS and NAMCS. Additional concordance was found in the proportions of patient clinical diagnoses.

The proportion of clinical diagnoses in neurology visits were consistent for headache, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease across the Axon Registry, NAMCS, and MEPS data sets. The notable differences in the proportion of clinical diagnoses

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AANnews • November 2023

were that the Axon Registry data showed a higher proportion of cerebrovascular, spine pain, and polyneuropathy diagnoses in neurology visits than that found in the NAMCS or MEPS data sets.

The neurologic procedure utilization rate analysis found a consistent rate for the Axon Registry with NAMCS or MEPS for EEG, MR/CT, and EMG. The person-level analysis showed consistency between the data sets across all domains studied with only two notable differences: Axon Registry has a lower proportion of patients younger than 15 years, and it has a higher proportion of patients seen in the Midwest.

The patient demographic, provider geographic, neurologic clinical diagnosis, and neurologic procedure data in the Axon Registry are representative of national neurology data, the study found. The few notable differences from the national data identify areas of improvements for Axon Registry recruitment, particularly in pediatric neurology and in the West Census Bureau region.

The Axon Registry is growing and is a valuable tool for quality improvement in neurology patient care. To learn more about the Axon Registry or to enroll, visit AAN.com/axon or contact registry@aan.com. 

ADVOCACY

neurology MINUTE ®

Capitol Hill Report Capitol Hill Report presents regular updates on legislative and regulatory actions and how the Academy ensures that the voice of neurology is heard on Capitol Hill. It is emailed to US members twice monthly and is posted at AAN.com/view/HillReport.

Issue in Focus Nearly 40 AAN leaders traveled to Capitol Hill this fall to advocate for the field of neurology and its patients.

The 2023 Legislative Summit, held in conjunction with the AAN’s Brain Health Summit, was an opportunity for a select group of AAN advocates to discuss timely issues with members of Congress. Members of the group attended nearly 90 meetings with their senators and representatives.

Advocates’ first request to lawmakers was to support the neurology workforce by co-sponsoring the Conrad 30 State and Physician Reauthorization Bill, which would reauthorize the Conrad 30 program.

The program gives each state 30 waivers to allow international medical graduates, who make up nearly 30 percent of the neurology workforce, to remain in the country after their residency ends if they practice in a rural or underserved area.

The advocates also called on lawmakers to co-sponsor the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act, which would address soaring practice costs by providing an automatic inflationary update to Medicare physician reimbursement tied to the Medical Economic Index.

Finally, advocates urged lawmakers to support the implementation of a new complexity add-on code included in the proposed 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The G2211 code would be billed in conjunction with outpatient evaluation and management visits and would help account for the time and resources required to manage the care of patients with complex conditions. Advocates told members of Congress about the importance of this new code and urged them not to take any action that would halt or delay its implementation. 

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Neurologist—Kelsey-Seybold Clinic—Houston, Texas Kelsey-Seybold Clinic is Houston’s premier multispecialty group practice, founded in 1949 by Dr. Mavis Kelsey in Houston’s renowned Texas Medical Center. More than 800 physicians and allied health professionals practice at 40+ locations in the Greater Houston area. Kelsey-Seybold offers quality medical care in 65 medical specialties. The organization operates the largest freestanding Ambulatory Surgery Center in Texas. It offers state-of-the-art Varian TrueBeam and Varian Edge radiation therapy technology at a nationally accredited Cancer Center. Its comprehensive offerings include an accredited Sleep Center, comprehensive laboratory services, advanced imaging and diagnostics, 16 on-site Kelsey Pharmacy locations, and MyKelseyOnline, a secure web portal. Kelsey-Seybold partners with major insurers to offer value-based commercial health plans.

KelseyCare Advantage, a Medicare Advantage plan offered to Houston-area beneficiaries and affiliated with KelseySeybold Clinic, has achieved the coveted 5-out-of-5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid for three consecutive years and is the only 5-out-of-5-star rated plan in Texas. Pathway to Partnership—Unlike other organizations, Kelsey-Seybold physicians have the opportunity for ownership in the Medical Group and The Kelsey-Seybold Management Company. The ownership path is clear and straightforward. A Kelsey-Seybold Physician is typically eligible for ownership after three years of employment, board certification, and demonstrated good citizenship.

The result is an extraordinary, broad-based, and diverse physician-led organization. When you join Kelsey-Seybold, you become part of an established, physician-owned, and led multispecialty group practice with a 70-year legacy of caring for patients. 72 physicians hold leadership positions, 56% of our physicians are shareholders, The average physician tenure is 11 years, Physician-led board of managers, A defined path to partnership. Due to phenomenal growth, multiple locations are available throughout Greater Houston, with new clinics opening through 2024. At Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, our Neurologists diagnose, treat, and manage patients with neurological disorders or the nervous system. They see patients in the office from 8a.m.–5p.m. Monday through Friday. One of the group neurologists takes call during weekday evenings and on weekends every six weeks on average. Kelsey Seybold Clinic has a 24-hour call center and after-hours registered triage nurse to assist inpatient care.

Qualifications: Graduate of an approved training program in the United States. Board-certified or eligible. Licensed or willing to be licensed in the State of Texas. Benefits and Compensation: Our physicians practice medicine in a collaborative manner amongst many medical specialties and subspecialties, embracing technology and teamwork to provide patient-centered care. Our compensation package is productivity-based and includes salary, paid time off, CME, and matching 401K. Affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute. Multispecialty group practice setting, Regular weekday hours, Full nursing and clerical support, Paid malpractice and tail coverage, Electronic Medical Records. As the 4th largest city in the US,

Houston, Texas, is a leader in business, entertainment, the arts and more. From professional sports to outdoor fun to an out-of-this-world space experience and incredible dining —it’s all here! Stroll the beaches of Galveston or challenge yourself on one of our many golf courses. Space City offers everything from breathtaking museum exhibits to vibrant downtown entertainment. Explore the wonder of space or spend the day shopping to your heart’s content. Houston is a city of infinite possibilities. Kelsey-Seybold Clinic strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by organizational policy or by federal, state, or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. Kelsey-Seybold is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and desires priority referrals of protected veterans. Interested candidates contact Meril Jacob; meril.jacob@kelsey-seybold.com Great Opportunities for Neurologists & Neurohospitalists in Beautiful Great Lakes Bay Michigan Covenant HealthCare—Explore of six inviting cities and wash away your cares in the calm waters of Lake Huron Covenant Medical Group, the employed physician network of Covenant HealthCare is seeking to hire a motivated BE/BC General Neurologist and a Neurohospitalist to join two other neurologists, one neurohospitalist, three neurosurgeons and a team of advanced practice providers. Our team has a strong commitment to excellence, patient-centric, highquality, and safe care. Join the largest hospital-integrated physician group in the Great Lakes Bay Region with a tremendous referral network and a quality of life second to none. We are the region’s most comprehensive hospital with a Level II trauma center. An independent hospital, Covenant HealthCare board members and leadership are members of our community. Successful candidates will have opportunities to treat a spectrum of neurological disorders.

They will work with a strong team of neurologists and neurosurgeons, with neuroradiologists on staff and a solid team of neurological techs for EEGs and EMGs. Highlights Include: Extremely competitive base salary and incentive program, Excellent benefit package including medical, dental, vision, dental, Generous CME allowance, A generous paid time off package and much more. Interested? Email Cecilia Jerome at Cecilia.Jerome@chs-mi.com Neurologist—MS & Neuromuscular COE— Clearwater, Florida At MS & Neuromuscular COE, our specialists, physicians, nurses, and staff members share a goal of providing personalized, compassionate care with every interaction.

We’re seeking to expand our team with a neurologist who can offer the cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic clinical services for which we’re renowned. Because many patients are referred to us with complicated symptoms, the neurologist who succeeds in this role will be an expert puzzle-solver and highly skilled at evaluating symptoms, medical history, and test results to reach an accurate diagnosis—the first and most important step toward

effective treatment. Objectives of this role: Deliver a high standard of medical care by listening carefully to patients' concerns and conducting a thorough assessment of their health, Customize a care plan for each patient, Foster improvements and enhancements in the practice of neurology by implementing Lean Methodology, Participate in continuing education courses for practicing medical professionals. Responsibilities: Evaluate, diagnose, and treat neurological disorders of the central and peripheral nervous systems, Order and analyze tests such as electroencephalogram (EEG), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Share findings with medical team, and communicate treatment options internally and with patients, family members, and caregivers, Monitor and track patient progress, adjusting treatment plans and medications and weighing referrals when necessary. Required skills and qualifications: Doctor of medicine degree, Residency recognized by official body such as ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education), License to practice medicine in Florida, Certification in neurology from relevant board, such as ABPN (American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology), Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills. Join 2 Neurologists and 2 APPs in a thriving practice! We just built a brand new state-of-the-art facility, right next to the hospital! This is a primarily outpatient practice, with very limited shared call with other Neurologists in the community.

Seeking board-certified or eligible Neurologists, Brand new 5,620 square foot clinic across the street from the hospital, 1-year partnership track, 60% of collections, guaranteed salary for first 6 months, 1:8 weeks call, 24/7 tele-stroke coverage, Sign-on Bonus, Relocation allowance, 34 days of PTO, CME, and Holiday time, CME allowance, Health benefits, 401K, Malpractice with tail coverage. Someone with expertise in Neuromuscular, Epilepsy and Cognitive Neurology would be highly desired! Monday through Thursday, 8–5; Friday 8–4 schedule. Located 22 miles directly East of Tampa, right on the Ocean! Clearwater is a city in Florida's Tampa Bay area known for its proximity to some of the most beautiful family-friendly beaches in the United States. There are many opportunities for water sports and outdoor activities. Clearwater is located less than 30 minutes from Tampa International Airport and less than 45 minutes from downtown Clearwater, downtown Tampa, and downtown St. Petersburg. Its location has easy access to many restaurants, historic sites, and robust cultural activities. Orlando and Fort Myers are within a two-hour drive. MS & Neuromuscular Center of Excellence provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting and hiring. Contact Terry Schneider at terry@msandneuro.com for further information. 

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