While not excluding neurologists , it was the goal of the NHF to look beyond this specialty for more headache specialists . The NHF ’ s steering committee , which developed the exam , consisted of neurologists , other physicians , physician assistants , nurse practitioners , and clinical psychologists – all with many years of experience in headache medicine .
By including headache specialists from various specialties of medicine and disciplines of healthcare , patients will have more specialists available to them . Treppendahl said headache patients are used to seeing their family doctor and that some patients may see a neurologist who specializes in something other than headache . CAQ acknowledges all who are qualified in headache medicine , neurologists and non-neurologists . Some health care practitioners , like Treppendahl , only focus on headache .
“ All I do , all day long , is headache . When I go home , I read about headache .” Treppendahl said .
To help headache patients locate headache specialists , CAQ recipients are all eligible to be added to “ Healthcare
Provider Finder ,” on the NHF ’ s website , www . headaches . org . Before CAQ was reinstated , the NHF ’ s online database was limited to physicians .
J . Michael Jones , MPAS-C also focuses on headache . He has 34 years of experience in medical practice , most of which was spent in headache medicine . For 5 years , he was the owner , along with James Moren , MD , of Pacific Rim Headache Center , PLLC . The Center closed on December 31 , 2015 , because , according to the website , “ Health insurance companies , posturing for their participation in ACA , have slashed reimbursements for small practices ( especially headache practices ).”
Beyond recognizing physician assistants qualified in headache medicine , Jones is hopeful CAQ will help the process of insurance companies in recognizing the need of headache sufferers and those who manage for their headaches .
“ If we could ever get insurance companies to recognize that there are individuals who have more training and expertise in headache medicine , I hope they will eventually recognize us ,” Jones said . “ The ones that we
24 HeadWise ® | Volume 6 , Issue 1 • 2016