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PMNews
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| PM News | |
The Voice of Podiatrists
Serving Over 17,536 Subscribers Daily
February 16, 2017 #5,864  Publisher-Barry Block, DPM, JD
A partner of Podiatry Management http://www.podiatrym.com
E-mail us by hitting the reply key.
COPYRIGHT 2017- No part of PM News can be reproduced without the
written permission of Barry Block
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| PM NEWS QUICK POLL |
Quick Poll
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Do you currently participate in ACA (Obamacare) Plans? |
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| APMA COMPONENT NEWS | |
APMWA Announces 31st Annual Student Writing Competition
The American Podiatric Medical Writers Association has announced its 31st Annual Student Writing Competition.
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All papers MUST be non-technical in nature. Appropriate subjects include practice management, ethics, law, education, or any topic that would be suitable for a lay publication.
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There is no word limitation. Papers will be graded for content, style, grammar, neatness, and overall impact.
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First prize will be one thousand dollars ($1,000), sponsored by an APMA Educational Foundation endowment from Dr. and Mrs. Steven Berlin, and recognition in the APMA NEWS and the APMWA Newsletter. Honorable Mention Certificates may also be awarded.
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This competition is open to ANY enrolled podiatric student.
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Entries must be received by 4/1/17 via e-mail at bblock@podiatrym.com
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Entries become the property of APMWA, which may arrange publication of the entry.
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| PODIATRISTS AND FOOTWEAR | |
Don't Buy Shoes Too Early in the Day: CA Podiatrist
Before you head off to the store to try on new shoes, make sure it’s the right time of day to do it. As a result of the way your blood circulates throughout your body, the longer you’re awake and standing, the more blood is going to pool in the lower part of your body and in your feet, making them swell slightly. Therefore, Dr. Jonathan Labovitz, a professor at Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Podiatric Medicine, says it’s important to try on shoes during the middle of the day or later, when your feet have already swollen a little bit, so you can account for this slight difference in size.
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Dr. Jonathan Labovitz |
“I think the most common [mistake] is to try shoes on over the weekend, and to do it first thing in the morning when you do your errands,” says Labovitz. “So people buy a shoe that doesn’t account for any of the swelling that they’ll naturally get during the day being on their feet. The shoes will end up being too tight and constrictive.”
Source: Clare Varella, Reader's Digest
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| PODIATRIC PRODUCTS IN THE NEWS | |
TX Podiatrist Gives Cheaper Alternative for Customized Children's Orthotics
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Library in Odessa has a 3-D printer at work. They've had it for about a year. It's not only for recreating models but also to prevent a child's foot pain without breaking the bank. They call, it the "TechThotic." "Normally for a pair of custom orthotics, they start in the lower $400s and go up," said Dr. Tara Deavor with Texas Tech's Family Medicine Department. "If you're looking at a kid, depending how quickly they grow, you're looking at changing those frequently, and that can be expensive for the parents; so we were trying to think of a different way of doing it."
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Dr. Tara Deavor |
Deavor said children with flat foot deformities may experience pain if no proper orthotic insert is worn. "It's painful, it's difficult to walk, difficult to run, difficult to do regular activities because the foot doesn't have any support," she said. "What the orthotic will do is it will help support the arch, and so kids who are normally hurting can now run, play, jump, and do kid things."
Source: Jolina Okazaki, KWES (NBC) [2/13/17]
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| PODIATRISTS AND THE LAW | |
CA Podiatrist Resigns from Palos Verdes Peninsula Parks Board
A Torrance podiatrist convicted of multiple sex offenses against female patients in his office continued to serve on an obscure Palos Verdes Peninsula recreation and parks district board until he abruptly resigned Monday, the Daily Breeze has learned. Dr. Arnold Serkin quit the position after the newspaper began making inquiries last week about why the Rancho Palos Verdes resident remained on the Ridgecrest Ranchos Recreation and Park District board of directors, despite his conviction last February on four felonies.
Source: Larry Altman and Nick Green, Daily Breeze [2/13/17]
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| PM JURY VERDICT REPORTER | |
Alleged Podiatric Surgery Caused Nerve Damage During Tarsal Tunnel Surgery (FL)
Facts: Plaintiffs Mark and Patricia Hughes alleged that a podiatric surgeon was negligent when he performed a tarsal tunnel decompression surgery on Mr. Hughes on Oct. 19, 2010. Mr. Hughes had originally been injured by a pressure cleaner, causing damage requiring the tarsal tunnel surgery. Plaintiffs claimed that Defendant mistakenly placed a "running suture" through the tarsal tibial nerve, causing nerve damage.
Defendants denied plaintiffs' claims before and during trial, and further argued at trial that there was no objective or credible evidence to support plaintiffs' claims of liability or damages. Plaintiffs demanded $8,968,898 apportioned as follows: $1,902,528 for pain and suffering, $5,991,940 for future pain and suffering, $190,252 for loss of consortium, and $884,278 for future medical expenses. Additionally, defendants agreed prior to trial to pay a healthcare lien in the event of a verdict in favor of plaintiffs.
Result: Following a trial before Judge Martin Colin, the jury reached a verdict for defendants on Oct. 28, 2016 ($0).
Plaintiff Expert: Joshua Marc Bernard, DPM, Tampa, FL
Defendant's Experts: Steven Spinner, DPM, Plantation, FL, Allen Jacobs, DPM , St. Louis, MO
Source: Jury Verdict Reporter
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| PRACTICE MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY | |
Healthcare Fraud 101: An Overview of the Key Statutes - Part 3
Criminal Statutes
The government may also bring a criminal case against you or your practice for violating certain statutes. Generally, these statues require some level of intent (i.e., that you knew your conduct was wrongful), making it more difficult for the government to prevail. That said, the possible penalties are life changing: conviction of a felony and prison time.
1. Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS). The AKS is a criminal statute that prohibits offering or providing anything of value to induce the referral of Medicare or Medicaid business. Violating the AKS can result in imprisonment up to five years in prison and a fine of $25,000. Plus, if you are convicted under the AKS, you will be excluded from the Medicare/Medicaid programs for at least five years. Like the Stark Law, there are statutory and regulatory exceptions (called "safe harbors"), which provide providers with comfort that their conduct is lawful.
Source: Sara Kropf, Physicians Practice [2/9/17]
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| QUERIES (CLINICAL) | |
Query: Calcaneal Wound
In the past, I have used drilled bone in the tibia to encourage new tissue growth. I have also used serial bone debridement to encourage tissue growth on the digits and metatarsals. These bone assaults were always on long bones. Has anyone tried any of these methods to encourage tissue healing around the calcaneus? I am considering drilling 3 holes on the medial aspect and 2 more holes through the plantar aspect of the calcaneal bone. The attached picture shows the severity of the soft tissue loss. The green that is covering the soft tissue of the calcaneal bone is from a papain-urea-copper-lidocaine mixture.
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Calcaneal Wound |
X-rays today show no bone loss from osteomyelitis and no bone is exposed. The patient is on appropriate, culture-result recommended antibiotics, and repeated recent cultures are clean. He has already been treated by a vascular specialist and has severely calcified peripheral arteries. His CBC, except for severe anemia, is WNL. His sed rate is pending. This wound initially killed this patient with sepsis a few weeks ago, but he was resuscitated. I am now seeing him as an outpatient. He is adamant that he does not want an amputation. He has a history of CHF, COPD, IDDM. I vaguely remember that the circulation in the calcaneal bone seems to fade with aging. This patient is about 56 yeras old. If any of you know of an incidence of someone drilling the calcaneal bone for tissue growth, please let me know.
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| RESPONSES/COMMENTS (CLINICAL)PRACTICE MANAGEMENT TIPS | |
From: Elliot Udell, DPM
Today, a patient came into my office to have us cast him for a new set of orthotics. I made him orthotics many years ago and they are long gone. He was very quick to tell me that his insurance company told him that he is 100% covered for orthotics. We called the insurance company and sure enough, he is indeed covered for custom orthotics. They let us know that they would send me a check for 89 dollars for a pair of custom orthotics. This would include casting, biomechanical exam, etc.
I thanked the insurance company for their candor and sent the patient to Hanger with a prescription. This is not the first time this has happened, and even if the patient is initially willing to pay out-of-pocket to cover lab fees plus my time, I would run the risk of the patient coming back six months from now demanding a refund. This too has happened. So - if Dr. Bass or anyone else has a way around this problem, I would be infinitely grateful.
Elliot Udell, DPM, Hicksville, NY
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| YOU CAN'T MAKE THESE THINGS UP | |
RE: Outrageous Shoe of the Day
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What to wear to an Arabian Nights party! (Photo: Ungala) |
Source: Ivanka Ska via Virtual Shoe Museum
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MEETING NOTICES
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NEED CME CREDITS FAST?
PODIATRY MANAGEMENT'S AFFORDABLE ONLINE CME
You can Earn up to 50 CPME-Approved CME Contact Hours Online
Earn 15 Contact Hours only $210
(Only $14 per credit) http://www.podiatrym.com/cme.cfm
All required credits can be taken online for AL, AK, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, HI, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MI, NV, NJ, NM, ND, OH, OR, RI, SC, SD, UT, VA, WV, WI, & WY
Partial required credits can be taken online for AZ, CT, FL, GA, ID, KY, IL, IA, MO, MT, NE, NH, NY, NC, OK, PA, PR, TN, TX, VT, WA, and DC
Choose any or ALL from 30+ CME Category-1 articles posted
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| CLASSIFIED ADS - PART 2- ASSOCIATE POSITIONS AND FELLOWSHIPS |
ASSOCIATE POSITION – SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina's largest provider of foot care is a multi-doctor, multi-location practice currently seeking a highly skilled, personable, and hardworking physician to join our TEAM. South Carolina License is necessary and next exam is June 2017. Starting Compensation package $120k-$140k (base + bonus), health insurance, paid vacation, CME allowance, and retirement. Please send Letter of Interest and CV to: scdpmjobs@gmail.com
IMMEDIATE ASSOCIATE OPPORTUNITY – CHICAGO
Multi-location group-Chicago/Near West Suburbs - Opening for ABFAS Board Certified/Qualified associate for Chicago. Surgical/ortho patient load. No nursing homes. Must hit the door running! EMR, digital x-ray, laser, ultrasound, shockwave, surgery center & amazing support staff. Benefits available, associateship available for the right doc. Send CV to chicagopodwork@gmail.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION – ST. LOUIS, MO
Single location, two physician practice is seeking an associate due to retirement. Friendly office with comfortable schedule involved in all phases of podiatry. Opportunity for developing new areas of special interest. Guaranteed base salary with production bonus and other benefits including ownership options. Contact medwestpod@gmail.com for additional information.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE - IN, TN, TX, MO, KS, WI
Preferred Podiatry Group is seeking providers to join our growing practice servicing long term care facilities in several areas. We offer a competitive commission based income as well as a benefits packaged to our employed podiatrists. Full-time and part-time positions are available. Contact Dr. Chris Kestner at ckestner@ppgpc.com for details.
IMMEDIATE ASSOCIATE POSITION AVAILABLE – INDIANAPOLIS
For motivated, hard-working residency-trained podiatrist in busy 3-office practice leading to partnership. Would consider 2017 residency graduate. Two locations in Indianapolis and 1 location outside of Metro area. Competitive salary and benefit package including 401, profit-sharing, Health insurance. Surgery center ownership available. Forward letter and resume to Imalament1@comcast.net.
ASSOCIATE POSITION - HARTFORD COUNTY, CT
Well-established, busy podiatric practice seeking a candidate who is dedicated, hardworking, motivated with an excellent bedside manner. The practice sees all age groups and all aspects of podiatry from simple to complex. Seeking a long-term team player dedicated to patient care and has the ability to work independently. Send CV to ct_footdoc@yahoo.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION - ST. LOUIS, MO
Expanding group practice seeks full-time podiatrist to join our team, we have state of the art facilities with EHR, lasers, EPAT, digital x-ray, etc. Candidates must have completed a PSR/36 residency and be well-trained, ethical and collegial. Competitive salary with incentives and benefits. If interested, please Contact CHARLENEW@FACSTL.COM.
ASSOCIATE POSITION – SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Established practice in Southern Maryland looking for a full-time podiatrist. The ideal candidate will have strong clinical skills including ulcer care, diabetes and general footcare. Must have a strong office personality with the ability to maintain and attract patients. Advanced surgical training, evenings/weekends and E/R- on call not required. Please send C/V to: feet_r_neat@aol.com.
FOOT & ANKLE FELLOWSHIP- EXTREMITY HEALTHCARE, INC, ATLANTA, GA
This fellowship is under the direction of Dr. Mohammad Sharif, and is a 12-month surgical fellowship program involving foot & ankle surgery and limb salvage. Start date is August 1st, 2017. Salary: $ 50.000 + benefits (CME, health insurance, etc.) The fellow will focus on foot & ankle surgery including external fixation and will work with a limb salvage team. Submit letter of introduction and CV with medical school transcript to dfell@extremityhc.com. Deadline for applications is May 10th, 2017.
PM NEWS CLASSIFIED ADS REACH OVER 16,500 DPMs AND STUDENTS
Whether you have used equipment to sell or are offering an associate position, PM News classified ads are the fastest, most-effective way of reaching over 16,500 subscribers. For details, click here or write to: bblock@prodigy.net or call (718) 897-9700 for details. For commercial or display ads contact David Kagan at davidekagan@gmail.com or call (215) 808-0770.
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| CLASSIFIED ADS PART 1 - PRACTICES FOR SALE OR WANTED, EQUIPMENT FOR SALE |
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE - ACUSON P300 DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND SYSTEM
Acuson p300 Diagnostic Ultrasound System, good as new, excellent condition, purchased in 2013 and rarely used due to office time constraints. Includes transducer, owner’s/operator manual, portable cart, all CD’s/drivers that came with purchase. Email hldeady@gmail.com for information and pricing, will consider Best Offer.
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
Midmark 623 Exam Table/Chair with stool, absolute mint condition, never used. Also available are Biomedix PADnet arterial/venous testing device and Noveon Nail Laser machine. Serious inquiries only. Please contact nefootandankle@optonline.net.
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE - PRICE REDUCED - EXCELLENT CONDITION!!!
A2D2 Digital Imaging with HP laptop, hydraulic exam chair, stainless steel surgical lamps and washing basin with stand, Mayo trays/stand, X-ray unit, Osada drill with 2 hand pieces, and much more! All equipment comes with a working guarantee. Please email abbericken@gmail.com.
PRACTICE FOR SALE - LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUBURB
Golden Opportunity- Gross is over $500,000.00 on only 2 days. Easily expanded to full time practice. Full mix of patients- private, Medicare, HMO. All phases of podiatry practiced- surgery, wound care, maintenance, biomechanical. Be your own boss. Interested parties send email to footguy1@pacbell.net
PRACTICE FOR SALE - CALIFORNIA: NORTHERN
Wanting to retire. Looking for someone to take over practice. Great opportunity. Ready patient base. Potential to expand in all areas of podiatry. Awesome area - lakes, mountains, rivers - especially appealing to outdoor enthusiast/anyone who enjoys beautiful locale. $285,000 buys building and well established practice. Email reddingpodiatry@sbcglobal.net
PM NEWS CLASSIFIED ADS REACH OVER 16,500 DPMs AND STUDENTS
Whether you have used equipment to sell or are offering an associate position, PM News classified ads are the fastest, most-effective way of reaching over 16,500 subscribers. For details, click here or write to: bblock@prodigy.net or call (718) 897-9700 for details. For commercial or display ads contact David Kagan at davidekagan@gmail.com or call (215) 808-0770.
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| Disclaimers |
Acceptance and publication by this newsletter of an advertisement, news story, or letter does not imply endorsement or approval by Barry Block or Kane Communications of the company, product, content or ideas expressed in this newsletter. Podiatric Medical News does not represent the views, and is a separate entity from Podiatry Management® Magazine and Podiatry Management® Online. Any information pertaining to legal matters should not be considered to be legal advice, which can only be obtained via individual consultation with an attorney. Information about Medicare billing should be confirmed with your State CAC.
THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR
ENTITY TO WHICH IT IS ADDRESSED AND MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT IS
PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL AND EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE.
If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an
employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the
intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination,
distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly
prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please
immediately notify me and you are hereby instructed to delete all
electronic copies and destroy all printed copies.
DISCLAIMER: Internet communications cannot be guaranteed to be
either timely or free of viruses.
| | Guidelines |
- To Post a message, send it to: bblock@podiatrym.com
- Notes should be original and may not be submitted to
other publications or listservs without our express written
permission.
- Notes must be in the following form:
RE: (Topic)
From: (your name, DPM)
Body of letter. Be concise. Limit to 250 words or less). Use
Spellchecker
Your name, DPM City/State
- Subscribers are reminded that they have an ethical obligation to disclose any potential conflicts of interest when commenting on any product, procedure, or service.
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