The Voice of Podiatrists

Serving Over 12,500 Podiatrists Daily

February 07, 2011 #4,083 Publisher-Barry Block, DPM, JD

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Running on a Muddy Obstacle Course is Risky: MD Podiatrist

The hottest thing in running is not a new shoe or energy drink. It's mud. And fire. And other things that get in the way of running but manage, for some, to make racing more fun. "It's like you go to the beach, and I see these knuckleheads running on the sand; I just want to run up behind them and give them my card because they're going to get injured," said Dr. John Senatore, chief of podiatry at Union Memorial Hospital and a lifelong runner. "You're at a higher risk for spraining your knee, your ankle, whatever, without sure footing. When you run, everything's meant to go straight ahead. When you have mud underneath the running shoe, you go not only forward, you go sideways. I just can't believe they do this."

Dr. John Senatore

Senatore sees the value of obstacle courses for the military. Not so for weekend warriors. "The Marines - their lives may depend on going through an obstacle course," he said. "You get some 45-year-old accountant, what's the point? ... I always thought the purpose of exercise is to build one's own health. You're taking a significant risk."

Source: Laura Vozzella, The Baltimore Sun [2/2/11]

ASPS Launches Standalone Surgical Seminar

Since receiving CPME approval as a continuing medical education sponsor in October, the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons (ASPS) has been working to produce the 2011 Spring Surgical Seminar, the first standalone meeting for the association. Scheduled for March 2, in Chicago, seminar attendees will have the opportunity to earn up to eight continuing medical education (CME) credits and get hands-on experience for as little as $100.

The seminar will include lectures in the morning on adult flatfoot reconstruction, followed in the afternoon by a subtalar arthroereisis workshop as well as a calcaneal osteotomy workshop. ASPS members can register for the seminar for just $100; non-members can register for $350. Non-members who register for the seminar will receive complimentary ASPS membership for the remaining 2010–2011 membership year, allowing them access to ASPS University, the ASPS online educational resource. Residents and podiatric medical students receive complimentary registration for the seminar and complimentary ASPS membership.

OH Podiatrist Running for City Council

Elyria podiatrist Dr. David Hintz is running in the at-large Council race. Hintz, who is on the Elyria Charter Review Commission, Lorain County Children Services Board, Lorain County Community Alliance and Lorain County Solid Waste Management District’s Policy Committee, said he is a lifelong resident of Elyria and would like to help turn the city around. “I really would like to see the city turn itself around to the place I remember when I was growing up,” he said. “I know we can’t go back to the past, but things could be a lot better.”

Dr. David Hintz

Hintz said he would like to focus on making Elyria a small-business friendly city, reduce crime, and making government work more efficiently. “Everyone talks a lot about efficient government, but in my work with the Lorain County Community Alliance, we encourage networking and collaboration between different jurisdictions, and I believe that form of government can work in Elyria,” he said.

Source: Lisa Roberson, The Chronicle and Telegram [2/4/11]

Stand Out in Small Talk

It’s an automatic response to the question “How are you?” Nearly everyone replies, “Fine, thanks” without even thinking about the question or really hearing it. You will stand out if you offer a sincere and unexpected response.

• Clue someone in to your personal interests and forge a connection by saying something like “Great, since [your favorite local sports team] won last night.”
• Share your priorities and burnish your practice reputation by saying something like “Fabulous—my practice just acquired a laser to treat fungal nails .We're the first in the area to get one .”

   Source: Adapted from “How to Ignite Elevator Small Talk ... Even When You’re Not in One,” Cyndi Maxey via Communication Briefings

Query: H&Ps for Podiatrists

I was recently advised by my local hospital that podiatrists are now prohibited from performing H&Ps by the Joint Commission. Their policy reads: Dental Cases and Podiatry Cases:

Patients admitted for dental and podiatric care shall receive the same medical appraisal as patients admitted for other services.  Dentists and podiatrists are responsible for those parts of the patient’s history and physical examination that relate, respectively, to dentistry and podiatry. In addition, an appropriate medical history pertinent to the patient's general health and a physical exam to determine the patient's condition prior to anesthesia and surgery must be completed by the family physician/practitioner.  

I was under the impression podiatrists were able to perform H&Ps. Am I wrong?

Steven Block, DPM, Owensboro, KY

RE: Radiographs and Plantar Fasciitis (Judd Davis, DPM)
From: Michael M. Rosenblatt, DPM

Much has been written by both sides on the issue of whether routine x-rays should be taken for heel pain patients and the “cost to our economy for unnecessary” tests and procedures. There is no doubt that we spend more per-capita on tests than other countries do. This is because of the trial attorney lobby. We had a real chance for tort reform in our latest incantation of Congressional reformed healthcare. This was squandered by a political party with direct connections to that trial lobby. Ordinarily, politics is not a part of this blog. But it is impossible to avoid it in this discussion. It’s simply reality.

I personally have no regret to seeing routine x-rays and tests continue. We could choose to become activists by personally cutting back on tests and treatment, I suppose. But I see no value in that for our patients or us.

College loans are a catastrophe for modern podiatry graduates. There have been no signs of reduction of educational costs, either. I see no benefit in giving away services or reducing them for “the economy” since we had no control over the factors which hang over our collective heads. Good citizenship also requires that we repay our college loans. 

Michael M. Rosenblatt, DPM, San Jose, CA, Rosey1@prodigy.net

RE:  Replacement for Stat-Wrap (R.D. Teitelbaum, DPM)
From: Avi Kornbluth

It is now called Peha-haft(R) latex-free and is made by Hartman (the makers of Stat Wrap). Podiatrists who have switched say that it's basically the same. 
 
Avi Kornbluth, Henry Schein Medical, avi.kornbluth@henryschein.com

RE: Universal Training of Podiatrists and Parity (Dennis Shavelson, DPM)
From: Steven D. Epstein, DPM

When I graduated from podiatry school 31 years ago, the divide, to use Dr.  Shavelson's term (and I agree with it), was between those who did not acquire a residency and those who did, usually one year only and often without real surgical training. Now, we speak of three years plus fellowships after that in order for new graduates to have a shot at earning a decent living. Shouldn't we ask ourselves, does it really require a minimum of three years of post-graduate training nowadays to have a reasonable chance of success just to be a foot doctor? Maybe, there is something wrong with the whole podiatry model itself, not just our training model? If three years should leave some future graduates unable to compete in the marketplace, will we say we need four-plus years?

Steven D. Epstein, DPM, Lebanon, PA, sdepstein@yahoo.com

RE: Are We Physicians? (Barry Mullen, DPM)
From: Robert Bijak, DPM, Cynthia Cernak, DPM

Gee, I guess you didn't know that it's still against the law in NY and 15 other states to use the term physician unless you're an MD/DO. I guess you missed the point I made about the military, where we are not considered physicians. Many, many insurance companies list us with optometrists, nurses, physical therapists, and pharmacists. This never happens with MD/DO's.

One of the main problems podiatry has is that some of its members are living in a Pollyanna world of ankle and leg laws and "physician status." This disparity in national scope does not provide homogeneity to the profession, so it is disingenuous to say (all) podiatrists are considered physicians. When you consider that NY alone has about 2,500 podiatrists and we can't use the term, it speaks for a large portion of the profession being considered paramedical. And that's only NY. Now, please understand me. I abhor the term and anything that depredates the field I've been in since 1976.  I bring up this reality because the definition of podiatry seem relative to your point of view (geographically), not a universally accepted status. My thrust is to get the APMA from  focusing on walkathons and flip-flop injuries and push for universal scope, and better still, an unlimited license.

Robert Bijak, DPM, Clarence Center, NY, Rbijak@aol.com

I had an occasion to call the licensing board of the State of Wisconsin the other day to ask about the now two-year residency requirement for a podiatry license in the state (No there is no grandfather clause, and it will take one year to sort this out, they told me). After a 45 minute wait time and being transferred to numerous people, the person who is in charge of the credentialing paperwork answered the phone and asked, "did you want to talk to the physician's section or the non-physicians of which the podiatry would be found in." Some parity.

Cynthia Cernak, DPM, dr.cernak@gmail.com

RE: Employee Embezzlement (Name Withheld)
From: Jim Spitsen

The podiatrist who wrote regarding the office embezzlement has never said if he reported the loss to his insurance company; not his professional liability carrier, but the company that insures office contents, building, etc. These office policies usually have built in to them some “employee dishonesty” coverage. The average limit is $25,000. Since the offender set up a separate bank account for the crime, the accounting of the money to prove the loss should be relatively easy.

If the policy does not have employee dishonesty coverage built in to it, the question is ‘why not?’ In economic downturns...

Editor's note: Jim Spitsen's extended-length letter can be read here.

RE: PM News Withdrawal

While I am happy Dr. Block will be enjoying a well-deserved vacation from Feb 10th-17th, I would like to ask the editor what am I supposed to do for that week? I am worried about possible withdrawal.
 
Jeffrey Kass, DPM, Forest Hills, NY

Editor's note: Keep in mind that we too will miss the daily interaction with our loyal readers. Not to worry; we'll still be amassing news stories and letters, so we'll be back before you know it.

ASSOCIATE POSITION - NE GEORGIA SUBURB

Immediate opening for PSR24/36, ABPS Qualified or Certified individual. Hosp/Amb. Surg. Ctn  privileges available. Good chance of partnership or practice purchase in foreseeable future. Send resume/CV to gramps395@yahoo.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION NYC (PART TIME) 
 
Manhattan (East Harlem) Community Health Center. Experienced podiatrist with commitment to providing quality care. Bilingual Spanish a plus Please forward resume and cover letter including salary requirement. FAX: (212) 360-6149 Email:  orodriguez@boriken.org

ASSOCIATE POSITION - NORTH CAROLINA

Cornerstone Health Care, one of the largest physician-owned and managed multispecialty groups in the Southeast, seeks podiatric physician for office located in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina. The physician must have three years of training and board qualification in forefoot and rearfoot surgery. Cornerstone has over 290 providers in 75 locations. Physicians benefit from centralized billing, purchasing, and human resources, while maintaining autonomy over office practices. A state-of-the-art EMR system provides instant access to all Cornerstone patient records. Send CV to page.redpath@cornerstonehealthcare.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

Immediate opening. Well-established podiatric group in Southwest Florida. Multi-office practice with EMR, Digital x-ray, Ultrasound... Seeking full-time associate that is PM&S-36 trained, personable, independent and highly motivated. Must be BC/BS in rearfoot /ankle with confidence in complex reconstructive cases. Full benefits package, competitive salary, excellent lifestyle. Email CV to: JLH459@aol.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - NEW YORK CITY

One of the fastest growing podiatry practices in New York City and Queens seeks a podiatrist who participates with HealthFirst, Fidelis, and other Medicaid plans. Preferably a Spanish speaking podiatrist. Contact me at Podocare@aol.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - CHARLOTTE, NC

Well-established multi-office practice looking for personable, motivated associate leading to partnership. Excellent opportunity in a growing area. Contact charpodiatry@gmail.com

IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE- ASSOCIATE POSITION - DAYTON, OHIO

Join a well-established modern practice with an excellent reputation and referral base. Base salary $100,000 and benefits with a bonus structure. EMR, diagnostic ultrasound, all aspects of DME, Padnet vascular studies, and CO2 lasers. We seek a surgeon that is well trained, personable and motivated to join our group of 3 Podiatric Surgeons. Would like this individual to buy in the practice eventually. Please send resume to ohiodoctors@aol.com

PART-TIME / FULL-TIME PODIATRIST NEEDED ASAP - CHICAGO

Part-time podiatrist needed for 2 offices in Chicago with an average of 20 hours/week. Must have Illinois license. Must have completed 2 years of surgical residency. If qualified, email to: A-Storjohann@footexperts.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - CALIFORNIA

Busy office in Long Beach, CA is seeking a well-trained, motivated podiatrist to join their busy office. Applicants must have completed a surgical residency program and must have exceptional skills in all aspects of podiatry especially rear-foot surgery, sports medicine and biomechanics. Send letter of interest and CV to footman991@gmail.com

TEXAS- WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY!

Successful multi-office, multi-professional practice seeks well-trained new and established Podiatric Physicians with expertise in one of these areas: 1. Sports Medicine/Biomechanics/Gait Analysis, 2. Podopediatrics, 3. Diabetic Specialist, 4. Ankle & Rearfoot Surgery/Ankle Arthroscopy. A must to be really good in this niche, be outgoing, motivated, and personable with a dedicated hard working ethical desire to become successful. Send resume and letter of intent to sierrajip@gmail.com

PART-TIME/FULL-TIME PODIATRIST NEEDED - INDIANA

Part-time full-time Podiatrist needed for our Indiana offices. Must have Indiana license. Must have completed two years of surgical residency. If qualified email to f-massuda@footexperts.com

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE - COOL TOUCH LASER

Cool Breeze Cool Touch CT3 plus laser used for fungus toe nail infections Less than six months old. Great price won't last long. Considering a laser? We also have the Q- Clear Q- switch laser too. This laser is perfect for you. E-mail footcare@comcast.net

BOSTON UNIVERSITY LIMB PRESERVATION FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Boston University Medical Center has a accredited fellowship position. Become an expert in Limb Preservation, Tissue Repair and Regeneration. Be part of this unique Fellowship at a major teaching facility. During this time, you would be expected to become a knowledgeable expert who will contribute significantly to research, surgical procedures, teaching, and innovation. Requirements: Completion of a two or three year surgical residency; Candidate must possess a commitment to an academic career in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery. Submit a CV and letter of interest to: Erin Springhetti erin.springhetti@bmc.org and  Dr. Vickie Driver Vickie.driver@bmc.org or if questions call 617-414 6821.

PRACTICE FOR SALE - MARYLAND, DC SUBURBS 
 
Great opportunity. Well established and equipped practice for sale. Office includes state licensed Ambulatory Surgical Center. Present owner is retiring but will stay on as needed for smooth transition. Average gross over past 3 years is $575 K. dpmpracticeforsale@yahoo.com

PRACTICE FOR SALE - BOSTON SUBURB

A 12+ year practice, including all equipment is for immediate sale.  Average gross is $100K while being open only one day weekly. The ability for increased growth potential is obviously excellent with increased hours. Doctor is looking for serious offers only. Reply to shop@thefootdoctor.com

PRACTICE FOR SALE - SW LOUISIANA 
 
Only full-time podiatrist in city of 30,000. Great economic base of oil refineries and numerous petrochemical companies as well as riverboat casinos. Located in sportsman’s paradise. Practice comes with 2600 sq. ft. office building and all supplies. 7 area hospitals. Reasonably priced. Contact FINANCING AVAILABLE peshdpm@pol.net

SPACE AVAILABLE - BRANSON, MO

Great opportunity to develop a podiatry practice in a four condominium Branson office building with a growing ophthalmology practice along with a well established optometry practice and a multi-disciplinary ambulatory surgery center in Branson, a top ten retirement destination.The available condominium is a grey box so it can be build out to specifications. Rental and/or ownership options are available for this condominium. Practice development financing and ASC ownership available for the right doctor. Great schools and affordable lakeside or golf course living available. Contact Dr. James Bureman @ jbureman@missourieye.com or 417-861-5839

SPACE AVAILABLE- NYC & LI

Office to sublet and share with DPM and chiropractor, East 60th Manhattan, and Plainview long island. access to an MRI, Joint Commission certified operating rooms, digital x-ray, diagnostic ultrasound, and access to a multi-specialty ambulatory surgical center. Turn-key operation - no investment needed 516 476-1815 PODO2345@AOL.COM

PM News Classified Ads Reach over 12,500 DPM's and Students

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 12,500 DPM's. Write to bblock@podiatrym.com or call (718) 897-9700 for details. Weekly ad rates start as low as $109 for a 50-word ad 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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