08/30/2012
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 4
RE: Microphone for Dragon Medical 11 (David Kahan, DPM)
From: Larry Kosova, DPM
I have read with interest the opinions of what Microphones work well with Dragon Medical 11. 95% accuracy is very poor. Dragon 12 (just released, but not in medical version) should be 98%-99% right out of the box. Also the Parrot microphone is not a very accurate or noise-canceling microphone. For a little more money, there are much better options.
The speechware 3-in-1 microphone was specifically made for Dragon 11 Medical in mind. I used it daily with few errors. This is a table-based microphone that I can dictate from 14-20 inches away. Others have had a hard time getting used to this.
As far as wireless is concerned, Bluetooth's range is about 30 feet, but most will get it to work best at 15 feet consistantly. UHF or VHF wireless range would work for just about any office. There are many of these made for speech recognition in the marketplace. Samson 77 Airline is one such microphone with excellent accuracy and noise cancellation.
Search out speech recognition dealers, not eBay or your local big box. They will not have microphones that will work well with speech. Yes, there is a difference between just okay and great when it comes to speech microphones, and most great ones are not that much more expensive.
Larry Kosova, DPM, Chicago, IL, lkosova@yahoo.com
06/05/2012
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 4
RE: Unethical Behavior By Foot Solutions (Peter M Mason, DPM)
From: Lauretta M. Fernandez, LPed
I am the owner of the Foot Solutions store to which Dr. Mason referred. We have always valued our relationships with the medical community and medical practitioners. We see ourselves as allied professionals within those communities, working towards the same goals – providing the best solutions for your patients.
Foot Solutions has been a respected member of the community for almost ten years, assisting tens of thousands of Bay area residents. We have great respect for the medical community and have a long track record of working harmoniously and successfully with not only podiatrists but also orthopedists, physical therapists, and general practitioners.
As it relates to this incident, we believe that there is a misunderstanding, and welcome the opportunity to clear up any issues. With that in mind, I had a chance to speak with Dr. Mason on May 28 and had a cordial and professional discussion about his concerns. I hope we cleared up any misunderstandings. We again offered our help and support to Dr. Mason and his patients and hope to be of assistance to them in the future.
Lauretta M. Fernandez, LPed, Owner, Foot Solutions, Largo, FL, largo@footsolutions.com
06/04/2012
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 4
RE: Unethical Behavior by Foot Solutions (Cam White)
From: Marc Katz, DPM
Who really cares about Foot Solutions or Cam White or Novascarpa? There is nothing you can do about them or their behavior. How about concentrating on our own practices and behavior? Treat patients properly and prove to them and the whole medical community that podiatrists are the experts for all things feet! Do that by building yourself up, not putting others down. Stop the whining already and use your time more wisely. If you are not sure how to accomplish this, I recommend going to one of the most valuable and positive meetings in podiatry, AAPPM.
Marc Katz, DPM, Tampa, FL, dr_mkatz@yahoo.com
05/05/2012
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 4
RE: Sterilizing Bits Between Debridements (Lancing Malusky, DPM)
From: Bryan C. Markinson, DPM
Some of the opinions fly in the face of standards developed long ago. The latest post by ABPS-certified Dr. Malusky is why I feel this way. He states that a podiatrist should not be made to feel "retro" for drilling nails. He supports this by indicating that "we spin the bit in the cold sterile solution, instantly removing remnant debris," a method not up to snuff by any standard of cleanliness, let alone sterility.
He probably would even say that he would not hesitate to use the bit on himself or a family member, as he is "lung disease free." Aerosolization of nail dust and drill bit sterility are two completely different issues.
He has an installed central vacuum which has been shown to...
Editor's note: Dr. Markinson's extended-length letter can be read here.
03/19/2012
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 4
RE: ABPS Name Change (M. W. Aiken, DPM)
From: J. Barry Johnson, DPM
The name change of ABPS is something long overdue for our surgical specialty. We have our certifying board, ABPS, which has a name that does not coincide with the type of certification ABPS provides, which makes for confusion. As a result, most of us are listed according to our certification board, in “podiatry” or “podiatric surgery” which is confusing and non-descriptive.
This places us at a disadvantage with our hostile competitors. This has been a problem for some time now. We are certified in Foot Surgery or Foot & Ankle Surgery in general, and certification is the thing hospitals and insurance carriers and legislators look at first to help understand what the particular group does.
Certification should not be confused with scope of practice. Changing the name to ABFAS does not mean...
Editor's note: Dr. Johnson's extended-length letter can be read here.
03/15/2012
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 4
RE: ABPS Name Change (Mark Wolpa, DPM)
From: Craig Breslauer, DPM
I agree that changing ABPS to ABFAS does have several likely caveats and challenges ahead. However, this will be for ABPS to work out. This is not a new concept, so I must assume that much consideration has been given behind the scenes by the Board and their legal counsel. That is their job and part of any change.
As far as possible conflicts in the name, or trademark challenges, we do have The American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons! Shouldn’t the corresponding board certification requirements for ACFAS fellow status be The American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgery? Let’s not muddy the waters and add confusion to the real issues at hand. States still determine scope of practice. ABPS offers a process to show competence in our chosen specialty. The name, however, tells the public and officials making policy who we are and what we do.
Lastly, we cannot continue to be influenced by The American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society and their negative press and assaults on our surgical specialty. These attacks directly affect our abilities to earn a living and provide services to the public in need. Dr. Wolpa, do you want to ask their permission for privileges in foot or foot/ankle surgery only to be given “podiatry privileges”? We are long past this. Let’s move on.
Craig Breslauer, DPM, Palm City, FL, cbreslauer@southflaortho.com
03/13/2012
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 4
RE: ABPS Name Change (Craig Breslauer, DPM)
From: Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM
It is all about what we do. Those who have argued over the past few weeks about the use of term "podiatrist" and how "important" it is to retain our identy, need to wake up.
ABPS is now playing catch-up. The American Board of Lower Extremity Surgeons (ABLES) is already there!
Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM, Schaumburg, IL, doc@footsportsdoc.com
01/09/2012
RESPONSES / COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 4
RE: Insurance Company Controls
From: Seth J Steber, DPM
The problem is that biomechanics has become an inexact science for most practitioners. Evaluations are subjective, and goniometers are rarely used as our profession has become more surgically oriented. We need to maintain our status as the biomechanics experts and stop losing ground to physical therapists, chiropractors, and shoe store scanners. In this era of evidence-based medicine, podiatrists should be providing objective gait analysis as a regular part of their practices.
I agree that the schools seem to have been lacking in this department, and we cannot rely on them for the research. Affordable video and computerized gait analysis systems such as the Optogait can be used in the private office setting to objectively evaluate dynamic motion in gait, orthotic/bracing efficacy, and propensity for falls. We can and should provide evidence to insurance companies validating the positive effects of what we do every day.
Disclaimer: I own Incedo Orthopedics, LLC, the podiatric distributor for Optogait.
Seth J Steber, DPM, Lehighton, PA, contactus@incedoorthopedics.com
