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04/13/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS - (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 3
RE: Refusing to Hire a Person Who Smokes (Peter Bregman, DPM)
From: Jeff Kittay, DPM
What unbelievable arrogance Dr. Bregman brings to the table regarding his apparent superior will power regarding people who smoke. In one breath he talks about "nicotine addicts" and in the next preaches about how "we all suffer because others are too weak" to give it up.
I lived with a smoker for ten years, and due to her kindness and caring, was never bothered with the smell. She was a chronic heart patient who had had 10 catheterizations and 9 CABGs prior to our meeting in 1995 and 10 more catheterizations and multiple stents in the ten years we had together. She smoked, literally, until the night she passed in 2005, knowing full well the effects, yet despite tremendous will and strength, could not give them up entirely.
Deciding not to operate on smokers "unless I have no other choice" is a clinical decision I cannot argue with. The intolerance bespoken in these disparaging comments, however, is itself intolerable and a poor example of kindness and understanding.
Jeff Kittay, DPM, Boston, MA, twindragons2@verizon.net
Other messages in this thread:
06/08/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS - (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 3
RE: Podiatric Residency Crisis - Where are We? (Robert Steinberg, DPM)
From: Name Withheld
The minute a program director does not "jump through hoops" and comply with multiple ridiculous requirements made by CPME, the program/director is placed on probation and threatened to have its program accreditation removed.
I run a residency program at a busy level-1 trauma. Our residents run the entire Orthopedic Division as there are no ortho residents. We have over 5,000 ER visits to podiatry/ortho combined per year. I have been on probation different times for things like:
1. The diplomas used a dash instead of a slash
2. The residents did not complete every single box on a biomechanical exam form.
3. The schedule followed was not the same exact schedule as on the manual.
4. One resident forgot to hand in his ACLS certificate, etc., etc., etc.
Despite these obstacles, this year I managed to convince the hospital to fund one more spot and have already hired a graduate.
Name Withheld
04/16/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS - (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 3
RE: Competency of APMA Leadership (Allen Jacobs, DPM)
From: Lloyd S. Smith, DPM
I am personally and professionally offended by the inane and misinformed comment by Dr. Jacobs about Dr. Gastwirth. There is no individual within our profession who since 1970 has contributed to its progress more than Glenn Gastwirth, DPM. We were classmates at NYCPM, close working colleagues during my tenure on the APMA Board of Trustees, and my confidante and guide during my tenure as APMA president. We continue to communicate on issues of mutual concern. Despite my professional respect for Dr. Jacobs, his comments should be retracted and an appropriate apology offered.
Lloyd S. Smith, DPM, Newton, MA, lloydpod@yahoo.com
04/15/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS - (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 3
RE: Competency of APMA Leadership (Allen Jacobs, DPM)
From: Elliot Udell, DPM
It is human nature to "blame the captain" when the ship hits rough waters. After 9/11, many American screamed, "why didn't the president and congress stop Bin Ladin before -----"
What the public often fails to realize is that leaders of nations as well as major organizations such as our own APMA are neither infallible nor have the gift of prophecy. At times, the best that the most gifted leader can offer is to examine the facts of a matter and make sure that the problem does not recur.
I find it especially unfair and even troubling when people point an ill finger at the executive director of the APMA. I have known and worked with Glenn for over 30 years and can swear that both he and members of his family and staff commit their every fiber and soul toward the advancement of podiatry. I don't know how he manages to effectively run day-to-day APMA matters and handle every crisis affecting us nationally while traveling all over the country to train ever changing new leaders at all of the local regions. This is on top of making sure that our national convention, which caters to thousands of doctors, takes place every year and runs without a single hitch.
Elliot Udell, DPM, Hicksville, NY, Elliotu@aol.com
02/04/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS - (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 3
RE: Physicians Also Get in Trouble
From: Philip Obiedzinski, DPM
I would like to alert the readership to the weekly report of Outpatient Surgery Magazine (outpatientsurgery.net). It contains a lot of useful info. They never hesitate to report all of medicine's flaws. The podiatrists who do not like to see negative stories about podiatrists can see that many physicians also get in trouble with the law.
Philip Obiedzinski, DPM, Rutherfors, NJ, pjo1829@gmail.com
01/31/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS - (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 3
RE: Changing Office Hours (Olga Luepschen, DPM)
From: Kathleen Neuhoff, DPM
Our practice sees patients from 7:00am to 6:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and 7:00am to noon on Wednesday and 9:00 to noon on Sat. We have two DPMs, so we schedule one doc from 7:00am to 3:00pm and the other from 11:00am to 6:00pm. Times with highest patient demand are 7:00 to 9:00am and 3:30 to 6:00pm, so we do not schedule any "routine care" patients during these times. 11:30am to 1:30pm are also fairly busy with lunch hour patients. Wednesday is our slowest day (partly because our strappings are done twice a week). If we wanted a shorter work week, we would probably close on Wednesdays.
Fridays are our busiest and most productive days. They are our...
Editor's note: Dr. Neufoff's extended-length letter can be read here.
01/12/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS - (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 3
RE: Changing the Rules For Board Certification (Name Withheld)
From: Jeffrey Dull, DPM
I have been reflecting on the notion that you could load your 1st ray cases with cheilectomies (or any single procedure) and think that you have enough diversity to sit for the exam. I just want to share a bit of clarification.
I presented my cases two years ago, and cheilectomies were not included as part of acceptable 1st ray cases, then. So, with regard to your gripe of suddenly having the rules changed, your complaint is really without merit. Also, ABPS is looking for...
Editor's note: Dr. Dull's extended-length letter can be read here.
01/09/2013
RESPONSES / COMMENTS - (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 3
RE: Advertising for Employees (Mark Weaver, DPM)
From: Susan M. Weeks, PMAC, Mak Yousefpour, DPM
I respectfully suggest contacting the American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants. We frequently have members who have relocated and are looking for employment with a podiatrist in their new home town.
Many of our assistants are PMACs (Podiatric Medical Assistants, Certified) in clinical or administrative areas. Because we are a related organization of the APMA, our members must be employed by an APMA member in good standing. Our members have continuing education available to them and are an asset to their physician employers. I invite you to visit our website: aspma.org.
Susan M. Weeks, PMAC, ASPMA Membership Chair, weekssusan@bellsouth.net
For medical assistants and Medical billers, we often call the schools and ask them to send us an intern. They rotate through our offices for about a month and at the end of their rotation, we either hire them or get another intern. This way you can train them the way you want. The downside is their lack of experience; the upside is the fact that you do not have to hire them and then find out it did not work out.
Mak Yousefpour, DPM, Los Angeles, CA, makdpm@yahoo.com
12/19/2012
RESPONSES / COMMENTS - (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 3
RE: Foot Powder for In-office Dispensing (Jason M. Grossman, DPM)
From: Avi Kornbluth
Gordon labs makes Bromi Talc, Bromi Talc Plus, and a spray (Gordon's No. 5). All these are available from all podiatric suppliers.
Avi Kornbluth, Henry Schein, Inc., avi.kornbluth@henryschein.com
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