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PM News |
The Voice of Podiatrists
Serving Over 9,000 Podiatrists Daily
February 17, 2007 #2,812 Editor-Barry Block, DPM, JD
A service of Podiatry Management http://www.podiatrym.com E-mail us by hitting the reply key. COPYRIGHT 2007- No part of PM News can be reproduced without the express written permission of Kane Communications, Inc.
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FREE YOUR SOLE
NALFON(tm) 200 (fenoprofen calcium 200mg capsules).
Pedinol Pharmacal Inc. introduces Nalfon(tm) 200: * Rapid pain relief * Non-selective NSAID with over 25 years of clinical experience in the U.S. * Possesses both analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties * Generally well tolerated * Rx only Nalfon(tm) 200 is available in 200mg capsules. For full prescribing information on Nalfon(tm) 200 go to http://www.nalfon200.comNalfon(tm) 200. Foot pain doesn't wait. Why should relief?
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PODIATRISTS IN THE NEWS |
DC Podiatrist Recommends Crocs to His Patients
Some doctors are recommending Crocs to patients with foot problems. "These shoes are especially light," says Harold Glickman, DPM, former president of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). "They have huge room in the toe that affords the front part of the foot lots of room, especially for people with bone deformities like bunions and hammer toe. With the Rx Crocs, they're lined with antibacterial material that will prevent fungal and bacterial infections."
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Dr. Harold Glickman |
For people with diabetes, Crocs offer added value in the protection they provide. Because people with diabetes have reduced circulation in their feet, Glickman says, they're at higher risk for open sores and wound infection. The spare room and antibacterial properties of Crocs help combat these problems.
"I do not have stock in the company or work for the company, but I recommend them to patients all the time, and I wear them all the time," Glickman tells WebMD. "I wear them when I'm operating for three or four hours at a time and I get the sense I'm standing on water -- no leg pain, no back pain, and no arch pain."
Source: Heather Hatfield, WebMD [2/15/07]
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New Stylish, Washable, Elastic Shoes
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Orthofeet is introducing attractive, elastic shoes that are designed for diabetic patients, who need extra protection, but do not want to compromise on appearance.
The new elastic shoes are designed with unique features:
- Non-binding elastic vamp provides a loose fit at the forefoot, and ease pressure on swollen feet, bunions and hammer-toes.
- Firm heel counter offers excellent rearfoot support and stability.
- Washable: The shoes are made of synthetic materials that can be washed in look warm water.
- Four widths, including Women's Extra-Extra-Wide and Men's Narrow.
- Competitive prices- Shoes: $4200; Prefab inserts: $895; Custom inserts: $2200
For more information call 800-524-2845 or visit our website: www.orthofeet.com
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PUBLISHED PODIATRISTS |
TX Podiatrist Publishes Medical Mystery Novel
In the morning hours, he teaches health sciences at Kempner High School. In the afternoons, he is a podiatrist and performs surgery. Now, he is the author of a medical thriller. To boot his multifaceted personality, Dr. Jeff Ricken of Sugar Land, is a sailor and pilot, not to speak of his skill in playing the piano and guitar.
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Dr. Jeffrey Ricken |
"My first novel The Circle's Corner is based on my years of practicing medicine and surgery, five years living in Austria where I studied human anatomy in a graduate school and from sailing around the world for five years," Ricken said.
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The Circle's Corner |
The plot of The Circle's Corner includes disparate elements such as evil doctors who conspire to threaten Galveston; a doctor assaults a young female patient; and a fetus of unknown parentage is conceived 60 years ago and whose identity might have political consequences to the stability in America. "It's filled with dozens of plot twists and symbols and cipher codes to challenge the reader," Ricken said.
Source: Seshadri Kumar, Houston Chronicle, [2/15/07]
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Dia-Foot--Innovative Solutions for Diabetics
Dia-Foot continues to expand its line on premium products Podiatrists can dispense to their patients. Dia-Foot this month introduced the Glucocom glucose Meter. This newly introduced meter features a 7 second glucose reading and a telemonitoring system. Once the meter is dispensed to your patient your office orders the strips and lancets on a quarterly basis from Dia-Foot depending on the number of times the patient's PCP wants the patient to test their sugars a day. Your net profit for a patient who tests 2x a day is over $300 a year! Combine that with our Diabetic Shoe and Custom insert package and your profit per patient is over $500 each year. For more details call 877-405-3668 ext. 103.
Dia-Foot features only premium SADMERC Diabetic Shoes from New Balance, Hush Puppies, Rockport, Dunham, Aetrex, Apex, Soft Spots and Dunham. Go to www.dia-foot.com or call 877-405-3668.
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AT THE COLLEGES |
TUSPM Professor To Present on May-Hagglin's Disorder at ACFAS Meeting
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Dr. Jason Miller |
Jason Miller, DPM, assistant professor in TUSPM’s department of surgery, will be presenting a poster abstract/paper entitled, “May-Hegglin’s Disorder and other platelet dysfunctions as a consideration in compartment syndrome” along with Peter Moyer, DPM at the national ACFAS scientific meeting, March 14-18 in Orlando, FL
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MEETINGS / COURSES
The 2007 Annual Cherry Blossom Dermatology Seminar will be held in Washington DC at Washington Hospital Center on the weekend of April 28 and 29th. The meeting is sponsored by the American Society of Podiatric Dermatology.
Highlights will include lectures by Richard Scher, MD past president of the American Academy of Dermatology, Elizabeth Dugan, MD head dermatopathologist of WHC Melanoma Center. We are also very excited that we have the top podiatrists to discuss everything dermatology. They include Dock Dockery DPM, Harvey Lemont, DPM, Warren Joseph, DPM, Mark Kosinski, DPM, and John Steinberg, DPM, Wayne Caputo, DPM and more! We also have lectures by Todd Perkins, MD, Yolanda Holmes, MD, Ben Lockshin, MD and dermatology coding by David Freedman, DPM .
For further information and registration contact Dr. Joel Morse at foxhallfoot@aol.com or call 202-966-4811. The ASPD website will be up shortly.
For a list of all meetings go to: www.podiatrym.com/meetings.pdf
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QUERIES |
Query: Formula 3 Topical Antifungal
Last week a drug representative stopped by my office to discuss Formula 3, a new topical antifungal. The company claims a direct money-back guarantee to the patient if it does not work. Has anyone used this product who would care to comment. They don't sample.
Philbert Kuo, DPM, Chesapeake, VA
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* Don’t be mislead about price and product—get the facts- make the call: 866-734-6234 or visit www.reinadigital.com
Improving the image of x-ray technology for 29 years
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CODINGLINE CORNER |
Query: CPT 90772 Plus CPT 20550 Coding
A colleague of mine said we should include the code, CPT 90772 (therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic injection; subcutaneous or intramuscular), when administering heel, neuroma injections along with CPT 20550 (injection, tendon sheath, ligament, plantar fascia) for private insurance companies. Is this allowable?
Alan Pittle, DPM, El Paso, TX
Response: Your colleague is incorrect. First, the correct use of CPT 90772 is when an injection is administered for systemic therapy. CPT 20550, on the other hand, is billed when an injection is administered into/around a symptomatic tendon sheath, ligament, or plantar fascia.
Second, it is never appropriate to double bill an insurance company by submitting two codes for the same procedure. The National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) pairs CPT 90772 and CPT 20550 together with a "1" in the modifier column indicating that the two codes can only be used together on the same date of service if they are in distinct locations or for separate problems. While the NCCI is only mandatory with Medicare, many private insurers use it as well.
Incidentally, you indicated in your post that you would use CPT 20550 to code for a neuroma injection. While some Medicare and private carriers may insist that you use this code for a therapeutic neuroma injection, the APMA Coding Committee has gone on record that the correct code for a therapeutic neuroma injection is CPT 64450 (peripheral nerve block, therapeutic). Unless a private insurer has directed you to use CPT 20550, I suggest that you use CPT 64450 when injecting a neuroma with cortisone.
Mark Schilansky, Catskill, NY
Codingline subscription information can be found at http://www.codingline.com/subscribe.htm
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PODIATRY MANAGEMENT'S AFFORDABLE ONLINE CME You can Earn 15 CPME-Approved CME credits Online for only $139(Less than $14 per credit) http://www.podiatrym.com/cme.cfm Choose any or ALL of over 20 CME articles posted You Can Now Take Tests and Print Your CME Certificates Online
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RESPONSES / COMMENTS |
RE: Compression Neuropathy while Skiing (Alex Dellinger, DPM) From: Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM, Peta Minerof, DPM
The two most common causes are buckling the boot to tight - mostly because the boots are too big, and the skier's stance. Most skier lean back. This presses the calf against the back of the boot. The "leverage" forces the foot forward and the instep up against the tongue.
If you have identified the exact location of the "pinch", then you should be able to direct any competent boot fitter to that location. He should be able to do what in the boot fitting industry used to called a "Coke Bottle Punch".
A few other things.... Are the skier's custom insoles stabilizing the foot? Is the custom insole too thick? If he truly has a high arch rigid foot type, make sure the boot fitters have not added any heel lift under the custom insole OR under the liner.
Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM, Schaumburg, IL, Doc@FootSportsDoc.com
Even when the in-store fit appears very good, outdoor conditions can stiffen the ski boot. Some shops have suggested wearing the boots at home for up to an hour to determine if there are any subtle fit problems. I have a few simple suggestions:
Socks: Many skiers wear multiple pairs of socks in an attempt to keep the feet warm. Bad idea. This backfires by clamping down on the blood vessels, worsening the problem and causing lots of discomfort. Try one pair of well-designed ski socks with a polypropylene inner layer or sock liner to wick away sweat. It's usually the sweat that cools, making to foot feel cold. I might also try using a self-adhesive foam cut-out on the foot proximal to the area of discomfort or bony prominence and see if that helps.
Boots: Loosen, rather than tighten down the boots. Many skiers will close down the boots very tightly, again compromising circulation and causing neuropathy. Find a good ski boot fitter and make sure the ski shop adjusts the boots to provide as personalized a fit as possible. *Boot latches can often be adjusted to provide more or less closure at the latch, giving the skier a more appropriate range of adjustments while on the slopes. A good ski shop should also be willing to work with the customer until the boots are functional.
* The boot fitter can "blow-out" the hard plastic shell in the area of impingement. This allows the overall shell to remain the same, but relives the pressure in the area over bony prominence. Adding a foam cut-out pad to the inner surface of the shell should further cushion the area should also help. Above all, consult an experienced boot fitter about this. They have many sophisticated tricks up their sleeves.
Peta Minerof, DPM, Chicago, IL, Pminerof@aol.com
RE: Post-op Allergic Reaction? (David Gutierrez, DPM) From: Barry Mullen, DPM
True allergic reactions to Vicryl suture are rather rare and typically would not cause the entire digit to inflame. More commonly, sterile suture abscesses form when the suture material is placed too close to the skin and the body cannot fully hydrolyze it. They look like small zits within the incision line, are rather tender to direct palpation and irritated by shoes, but are easily eliminated. Depending upon your normal skin closure technique and post-op wound care, there are 2 common topical allergens utilized by some podiatric surgeons which are notorious contact dermatitis initiators 1. Neosporin 2.Tincture of Benzoin. Lastly, double-check your patient's medical history and ensure they don't have a latex allergy (fairly common) that went undetected pre-op.
Barry Mullen, DPM, Hackettstown, NJ, YAZY630@aol.com
RE: Refractory Hyperhydrosis From: Sheldon Laps, DPM
I have a solution for you regarding hyperhydrosis. Have your local pharmacy compound the following prescription: Formalin in rosewater, 15mn qsad 30. The rosewater is added to "sweeten the pungent aroma given off by the formalin, which is a powerful drying agent. Have the patient apply this solution to the soles of the feet at bedtime.
Sheldon Laps, DPM, Washington, DC, slapsdpm@comcast.net
Editor’s note: This topic is now closed
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CLASSIFIED ADS |
PART-TIME ASSOCIATE POSITION - BRONX, NY
Part-time associate position with real potential for full time. Two days a week (one day-in office; one day-house calls). Associate will have an opportunity to work with a very ethical and hard-working podiatrist. Competitive salary + incentive compensation. Please email CV to scottdeis@aol.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION- MINEOLA, NY
Excellent opportunity in fast-paced well-established podiatry practice for full time associate, all phases of podiatry including surgery, biomechanics, orthotics and routine foot care. Begins July 2007. Includes competitive salary and benefits. Please send CV and letter of interest to: cfcsteve@optonline.net
PRACTICE FOR SALE -NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Great opportunity to own a well-established turn-key podiatry practice located in modern medical office building in East Bay; Electronic billing, good payor base, no HMO contracts; biomechanics, general podiatry with great potential for surgery. Please send CV and letter of interest to: norcalpod@hotmail.com
ASSOCIATE WANTED FOR SOUTH MIAMI AREA
Large group, busy, multi-office, partner potential. Motivated applicants only. Mail resumes and letters of intent to 999 N. Krome Avenue, Homestead , FL 33030. July start time OK, sooner preferable. E-mail lianadpm2@aol.com
ASSOCIATE WANTED - NORTH CAROLINA , CHARLOTTE AREA
Incredible opportunity to join a busy, well-established group practice. Looking for a self-motivated, hard-working individual seeking to become a partner. Hospital and surgery center privileges. Salary plus percentage, 401k and real estate opportunities. Send CV to universityoffice@ bellsouth.net
EQUIPMENT WANTED - POWER CORD, PYROGALLIC ACID
I need the power cord for the MicroAire Series 2000 Electric power equipment. This is the cord which goes from the electric controller to the surgical handpiece. I am also interested in obtaining PYROGALLIC ACID, which used to be made by Gordon Labs. If anyone has either of these, please email with price. jstevenson11@woh.rr.com
SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA-PM&S 36 ASSOCIATE WANTED
Large, busy podiatry group looking for associate interested in future partnership. Practice facilities and technologies include: Surgical Center, Physical Therapy Department, six appointment locations, EMR, MRI and Digital X-ray. Full compensation and benefit package offered. Mail CV to Martin Foot and Ankle, 1203 S. Queen St. York, PA 17403 or email business administrator, johnreitzel@comcast.net
POSITION AVAILABLE - SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE/ NORTH GEORGIA
Immediate position available or will wait for the right individual. Unique practice opportunity in growing multi-physician/multi-office practice. Well established/cutting edge within the medical community. Close proximity to hospitals as well as opportunity to become involved with a free standing podiatric surgical center. Must be BQ/BC. Minimum PSR/24. Competitive salary, bonus structure and benefits. E-mail CV to afcjen@hotmail.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION -MINNESOTA – PRIME MINNEAPOLIS SUBURB
Busy, well-established, full-scope podiatry practice, seeking highly motivated podiatrist for a full-time position with potential partnership opportunity. Looking for PSR 24+ individual. Excellent opportunity for long-term growth with unlimited income potential. E-mail CV to employment@associatedpodiatrists.com or fax to (612) 866-5875 Attn. Jennifer.
ASSOCIATE POSITION- KANSAS CITY, MO
Excellent opportunity for a hard working, ethical podiatrist to join a vibrant, successful and growing podiatric medical and surgical practice. Dedicated, supportive staff with strong marketing and medical knowledge. Must be board eligible/certified. PSR/24. Partnership opportunity. Competitive salary, bonus structure, benefits. Wonderful place to raise a family. Fax CV to 816-455-8901
SEEKING RESIDENT FOR PSR-24 POSITION: BALTIMORE, MD
Mercy Medical Center -Position for a highly motivated individual with completed non-surgical residency or one desiring additional surgical training in well-established Podiatric Residency Program. Busy metropolitan hospital with high surgical numbers and inpatient care. Resident is integral member of multidisciplinary team. Begins mid June 2007. Includes competitive salary/benefits. Send inquiries to rsher18@yahoo.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION – NEW YORK & CONNECTICUT
Opportunity to be a part of a prestigious and well-established large Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation practice, with locations in Stamford, CT and West Harrison, NY. Looking for a podiatrist to join an already busy practice with opportunity to build. We have state-of-the-art offices with MRI, digital x-ray, paperless charts, physical and occupational therapy. Applicants should be Board Certified or Board Eligible. Competitive salary and benefits. For further information on the practice, log onto WWW.NYCONNORTHO.COM Interested candidates should forward their C.V. to: Cliff Katz, Executive Director ckatz@nyconnortho.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION- WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA
Position available for PSR 24/36 trained DPM to join the Podiatry Service of the largest multi-specialty Rural Health Group Practice in Florida. Good salary/incentive compensation and excellent fringe benefits plan, which includes paid vacation days, CME dollars and much more. EOE/DFWP Send CV and letter of interest to: MCRHS, P.O. Box 499, Parrish, FL 34219 or fax to (941) 776-4013.
WEEKLY SPECIAL - One week of ads (5x) for only $75
PM Classified Ads Reach over 9,000 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 9,000 DPM's. Write bblock@podiatrym.com or call (718) 897-9700 for details. Note: For commercial or display ads contact David Kagan at (800) 284-5451 dekagan@aol.com
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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
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