The Voice of Podiatrists

Serving Over 12,000 Podiatrists Daily

January 14, 2010 #3,753 Publisher-Barry Block, DPM, JD

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1) In yesterday's issue, we published a photo of Dr. Richard Weiner of Texas instead of Dr. Richard Weiner of Ohio. Our apologies to both doctors. This is the correct photo.

Dr. Richard Weiner (Ohio)

2) In the Guild 45 advertisement, the correct phone number to call should be  (1-877-323-5246). The corrected ad appears later in PM News.

GA Podiatrist Discusses Airport Screening Foot Safety

You know the drill. Before going through security at the airport, you have to remove your shoes, but it may be risky. Dr. Perry Julien, a podiatrist says,  "I certainly have concerns about being barefoot at the security terminals at the airports. Julien says some foot problems can be passed from one person to another. "There are so many things that could happen with somebody walking barefoot around those terminals, conditions such as athlete's foot, bacterial infections, even warts."

Dr. Perry Julien

Dr. Julien says cover your feet. "I think as long as there are some barriers, certainly a thicker sock would be helpful. But even a nylon hose is a better barrier than being barefoot." And walking around shoeless at airport security exposes your feet to other hazards. "My biggest concern is somebody even dropping a bag on somebody's foot without the protection of footwear."

Source: Isha Teshpar, CNN [1/10/10]

MO Podiatrist's Trial in Sex for Drugs Case Scheduled for June

A St. Louis podiatrist is scheduled for trial in St. Francois County this year for allegations he provided prescription pills in exchange for sex.

On Friday, Dr. Dave Dai Quang Pham’s trial was scheduled for June 15 before Circuit Court Judge Sandy Martinez. He is charged with felony distribution of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and misdemeanor patronizing prostitution.

Source: Daily Journal Online (MO) [1/12/10]

Medicare Looking for Bundling Payment Plans For Docs

The Medicare fee-for-service payment system is failing. It encourages too many patient visits and discourages care coordination and quality improvement. These misplaced incentives are helping to fuel unsustainable growth in healthcare spending. So goes the primary argument in Congress and other policy circles behind a proposed new approach to paying physicians and hospitals under Medicare: bundled payment. Already, it has led to a Medicare demonstration program. Both of the health system reform bills under consideration in Congress would expand the project.

In a bundled model, physician and hospital payments are lumped together in a "global" payment. Instead of being paid for each visit or procedure, doctors and hospitals are paid for all services to a patient in an episode of care for a particular condition. Depending on how a project is structured, an episode could be defined several ways -- a period of hospitalization, hospitalization plus a period of post-acute care, a stretch of care for a chronic condition, or even all inpatient or outpatient care.

Source: Geri Astin, AMNews [1/1/10]

ADA's New Clinical Practice Recommendations Promote A1c Test 

The American Diabetes Association's (ADA) new Clinical Practice Recommendations being published as a supplement to the January issue of Diabetes Care call for the addition of the A1c test as a means of diagnosing diabetes and identifying pre-diabetes. The test has been recommended for years as a measure of how well people are doing to keep their blood glucose levels under control.
 
Under the new recommendations, which are revised every year to reflect the most current available scientific research, an A1c of 5.7 -- 6.4 percent would indicate that blood glucose levels were in the pre-diabetic range, meaning higher than normal but not yet high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. That diagnosis would occur once levels rose to an A1c of 6.5 percent or higher.

The ADA recommends that most people with diabetes maintain a goal of keeping A1c levels at or below 7 percent in order to properly manage their disease. Research shows that controlling blood glucose levels helps to prevent serious diabetes-related complications, such as kidney disease, nerve damage and problems with the eyes and gums.

Source: Diabetes Care via Diabetes in Control

Ensure Delivery of Your e-mail Broadcasts

Include your own e-mail address among the recipients, preferably at the bottom of the list. If you receive the message in your inbox, everyone else likely received it as well.

Source: — Adapted from “Common Sense Email,” Bob Osgoodby via Communication Briefings

Query: Surgical Centers as an Investment

Is it still a good idea to invest in surgical centers or have I “missed the boat?” Have lower reimbursements, higher deductibles, laws against self-referral, and Obama-care made this a future investment folly?

John Moglia, DPM, Berkeley Hts, NJ

RE: New Balance TV Ads
From: Allen Mark Jacobs, DPM

Recently in St. Louis, New Balance began running a TV ad with pedorthists, showing the availability of computerized gait analysis and custom orthotic prescriptions. We also have pedorthists doing physical therapy here in Missouri. Is this happening in other states? Does it bother anyone else as it does me?
 
I am tired of seeing patients who have paid hundreds of dollars at the "Good Feet Store" and similar places of business, for so-called "custom orthotics." I find this as offensive as seeing one of our colleagues selling "orthotics" on television which he claims restore balance, and cures just about everything short of malignancies. Isn't it time that we stop supporting these illegitimate enterprises?
 
Allen Mark Jacobs, DPM, St. Louis, MO, allenthepod@sbcglobal.net

RE: Surgical Equipment Repair (Marc Goldberg, DPM)
From: Jayne Ferris, Pete Harvey, DPM
 
Try Mobile Instrument Service and Repair in Parkton, MD  at 410-343-1436. We used them many times for repairs as well as sharpening of instruments. 

Jayne Ferris, Practice Administrator, Pasadena, MD, jferris@chesapeakefac.com

I recommend Joseph Horvath, H & H Instruments, 4950 Crescent Technical Ct, US 1 S, Crescent Technical Park, St. Augustine, FL 32085, 904-797-1502. He did an excellent job for me.

Pete Harvey, DPM, Wichita Falls TX, pmh@wffeet.com

RE: My New Career as an Orthotist (Larry Cohen, DPM)
From: John K. Lampe, Ira Baum, DPM

I could not agree more with Dr. Cohen’s comments. No clinician is better positioned than the podiatrist to treat all aspects of the diabetic foot. Public health officials in countries like India, where diabetes cases are exploding in number, are bemoaning the fact that they have so few podiatrists.  There is a huge need worldwide for care, ranging from preventive foot care to highly complex surgery. Podiatrists have already supplied so much of the cutting-edge research on diabetic foot care. These are not easy cases. An emergency medicine physician I know really enjoys working with podiatrists because they are willing to take on these tough cases. In sum, the need is there, and podiatrists are meeting it. As an outsider, it seems to me your profession has a bright future.

John K. Lampe, President, Tamarack Habilitation Technologies, Inc., Blaine, MN, johnl@tamarackhti.com

When I made my initial comments, my intent was to take this individual and use him as a model to illustrate the issues confronting our profession. I didn't want our members to debate areas in which we excel, but rather the direction our profession is evolving. I would like to close this topic by using the preponderance of post-graduate surgical training as a barometer of where our profession appears to be going, and how our leaders envision our profession to ensure parity for podiatry in the coming years.  
 
Ira Baum, DPM, Miami, FL, ibaumdpm@bellsouth.net

RE: NJPMS Sues Insurer to Block New X-Ray Policy
From: Nicholas Sol, DPM

I echo the comments of others who have applauded this association's action. Our state associations continue to be important resources for practicing DPM's. I often think that more aggressive advocacy would be preferable. In this case, an insurance company is attempting a defacto redefinition of the scope of practice by denying payment for x-rays taken by DPM's.

Insurance companies do not have the legal standing to define scope of practice. This is also an attempt to usurp the power of the state board. In my opinion, it would be prudent for the state board to participate in this suit. Perhaps, the APMA should consider itself an interested stakeholder or, at least, a friend of the court.

Nicholas Sol, DPM, Colorado Springs, CO, drsol@thewalkingclinic.com

PRACTICE FOR SALE - NEW JERSEY
 
Part-time practice for sale. Located in Bloomfield, NJ. Great location in professional building. All modern equipment including digital x-ray. Please contact doccapo@yahoo.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - HUDSON VALLEY, NY

Recruiting a podiatrist who enjoys doing surgery! We are a seven–doctor podiatry group and we’re great to work with. A residency program is attached to our practice. Interviews will begin shortly for this special position. Please forward CV to: healthyfeet4ever@yahoo.com

PRACTICE FOR SALE - CENTRAL FL

Practice and medical building for sale, in beautiful, high quality of life, growing area, Central Fl.; 2000 sf bldg. fully equipped/ designed for podiatry; excellent location, features & exposure; near hospital, wound and HBO center. Great opportunity for expansion & investment; good insurance climate. 352-223-2713 / E-mail: windnwave@earthlink.net

ASSOCIATE POSITION FULL-TIME - SUBURBS OF CHICAGO

PSR 36 - month-trained podiatrist needed for busy suburban Chicago practice. Full benefit package included. If interested, please email your curriculum vitae to foot1st@yahoo.com

PRACTICE FOR SALE – MAINE

20+ years, full scope, turn-key practice in the same medical building location. Podiatrist-friendly hospitals just down the street, wonderful, appreciative and cooperative patients await. Excellent expansion potential. Maine offers an enjoyable life style, recreation abounds, reasonable housing costs, excellent school systems, low crime rates. Colleges and universities nearby as are cultural opportunities. Retiring seller will stay for transition. Please contact: mainefootdoc@yahoo.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - CHICAGO AREA

Join one of the most successful, long-established podiatry practices in the Chicago area, with excellent salary and benefits. We have an immediate opening for a full-time podiatrist in a multi practice location in Chicago. Must have two years of surgical residency. Please e-mail resume to f-massuda@footexperts.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - BROOKLYN, NY 
 
Full or part-time position available for a busy well-established podiatry practice in downtown Brooklyn. All phase of podiatry. Modern office with EMR, Ultrasound, digital x-rays with a great support staff. Must be highly motivated, ethical, with good communication and clinical skills. please email resume to tkd@gishpuppy.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION – ILLINOIS

Quality Podiatry Group provides quality services to residents at long term care facilities. We are currently offering full-time or part-time positions for motivated ethical podiatrists. Immediate openings are available. If interested, fax curriculum vitae to 847-674-2113 or e-mail to feetwork@aol.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - MASSACHUSETTS

PSR-24 trained podiatrist for busy multi location practice, high volume and high-tech. Seeking energetic individual for high volume of patients with multiple needs. Orthopedic, sports medicine, wound care, pediatric orthopedics and surgery skills required. Looking for immediate hire for the right candidate with possibilities for partnership. Contact Debbie Roberts debbierobertsm4@hotmail.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION – NORTH AND CENTRAL FLORIDA

Quality Podiatry Group of Florida provides quality services to residents at long term care facilities. We are currently offering full-time or part-time positions for motivated ethical podiatrists. Immediate openings are available. If interested, fax curriculum vitae to 847-674-2113 or e-mail to feetwork@aol.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION – TEXAS

Dynamic, growing practice in Dallas/Fort Worth area, seeking surgically trained, Board Certified/Board Qualified Podiatrist. Excellent salary and benefits compensation package, for the right candidate, with partnership/buyout opportunity. Contact/Send resume to: jmh6122@yahoo.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 
Well diversified growing podiatry practice with good mix of office, surgery center and hospital procedures seeking a full-time associate.  Must have NC license or taking state exam this year. Candidates should have excellent bedside manner equal to their medical skills. E-mail a cover letter and CV to DPMCAREER@AOL.COM

PRACTICE FOR SALE - ALABAMA, GULF COAST

26 year old practice for sale. Owner desires to sell. Practice operated 25 hours per week. Surgery and general podiatry. MD referrals. Surgery center and hospitals in close proximity. Highly profitable. Priced to sell. Seller will lease office to buyer. Contact Mike Crosby at 1-888-776-2430 or mcrosby@providerresources.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION – CINCINNATI, OHIO

This is your once in a lifetime opportunity to join one of the most successful practices in the United States. We do not have a seniority system. If you are motivated and have completed a PSR 24-36 residency, your income is limited only by your enthusiasm and desire to achieve. Email resume to khart@cincinnatifootcare.com

PRACTICE FOR SALE - TENNESSEE

Well established practice for sale. Full scope medical and surgical practice including DME. Exceptional practice with a high volume of new patients. Excellent hospital and surgical center privileges with investment opportunity. Great area for a family and the outdoorsman. 731-446-7285/E-mail nraines@charter.net

ASSOCIATE POSITION - MINEOLA, NEW YORK

Full-time associate position with future partnership potential available with busy multi-office practices on Long Island. Must be proficient in all phases of podiatry with emphasis on surgery, biomechanics and RFC. Minimum standards include either a three-year PSR, or board qualified/certified status with ABPS. Existing hospital privileges with a NY based facility helpful. Interested doctors are encouraged to e-mail their CV to mets724@gmail.com

PRACTICE FOR SALE - FLORIDA—CENTRAL/SOUTH

Turn-key operation grossing $570,000 annually based on one full-time doctor. Great opportunity for growing the top-line. Surgery is only 14% of the professional man-hours; it can significantly increase income. Medicare makes up 64% of revenues. Seller will assist with transition. Call 863-688-1725, ask for Chas.

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Whether you have used equipment to sell or our offering an associate position, PM News classified ads are the fastest, most-effective way of reaching over 12,000 DPM's. Write to bblock@podiatrym.com or call (718) 897-9700 for details. THIS OFFER DOES NOT APPLY TO BUSINESSES PROVIDING PRODUCTS OR SERVICES. Note: For commercial or display ads contact David Kagan at (800) 284-5451

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