The Voice of Podiatrists

Serving Over 12,000 Podiatrists Daily

March 24, 2010 #3,813 Publisher-Barry Block, DPM, JD

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Correction, Chance to Win i-PAD

Yesterday's issue of PM News contained the wrong photo of Dr. Robert Lee. Here is the correct photo.

Dr. Robert Lee

Be sure to check one of today's ads for a chance to win a new i-PAD (Hint: It appears just after the "At The Colleges" section.).

Supportive Shoes Can Prevent Plantar Fasciitis: DC Podiatrist

The plantar fascia is a band of connective tissue in the foot, similar in texture to a ligament. It's vulnerable to injury, especially as people age. But shoe choice can make a difference. To prevent injury, people don't have to toss out flip-flops or high heels entirely. But when walking a lot, presumably on hard sidewalks, DC podiatrist Dr. Stephen Pribut says it's better to wear shoes with some support.

Dr. Stephen Pribut

Back at his office, he picks up a pair of Asics jogging shoes that he says are ideal. They're lightweight and don't have too much heavy cushion. Most important, they do not bend in the middle. "When I take this shoe and press it down, it bends just at the ball of the foot, where the toes attach to the foot. That's right where the shoe should bend," he says. When shoes have too much bend in the middle, Pribut says it puts tension on the plantar fascia.

Source: By Allison Aubrey, WBUR.org

Scholl Researchers Shine At Midwest Clinical Conference

Scholl-CLEAR researchers, James Wrobel, DPM, MS, Stephanie Wu, DPN, MS, and Bijan Najafi, PhD represented podiatry research at the 65th Annual Midwest Clinical Conference. Dr. Wrobel highlighted podiatric research for prevention of foot amputation. He also highlighted the importance of objective movement analysis for prevention of diabetic foot ulcers.

Dr. James Wrobel Presents at Midwest Podiatry Conference

Dr. Wu reviewed advanced and traditional wound healing modalities. She also highlighted the recent inter-professional collaborations for offering better wound healing management. Dr. Najafi highlighted how interdisciplinary collaboration between bioengineers and podiatrists could offer innovative modalities for better wound healing management, outcome evaluation post-surgery, and improving the quality of care via home monitoring/telemonitoring using wearable technology.

APMA Elects New Officers

The following podiatrists were elected at the Annual House of Delegates of the American Podiatric Medical Association:

Dr. Kathleen Stone (Photo courtesy APMA)

President: Kathleen Stone, DPM (AZ)
President-Elect: Michael King, DPM (MA)
Vice-President- Joseph Caporusso, DPM (TX)
Treasurer: Matthew Garoufalis, DPM (IL)

Board of Trustees: (3-Year Term) – Frank Spinosa, DPM (NY), Ira Kraus, DPM (TN), and David Edwards, DPM (UT);  (1-Year Term) Jeffrey DeSantis, DPM (CA).

Speaker of the House (2011) – Mark Schilansky, DPM

In other business, the APMA Executive Director’s Award was presented to John Roman, CEO of Biomedix.

AZ Podiatrist Receives Kenison Award

The American Podiatric Medical Students Association (APMSA) has presented its highest honor, the Kenison Award, to Jeffrey Page, DPM, the founding dean of theThe Midwestern University (MWU) Arizona Podiatric Medicine Program  in Phoenix, Arizona.

APMSA Executive Director Dorothy Cahill McDonald and Dr. Jeffrey Page

The APMSA Kenison Award, named for Nehemiah Kenison, a visionary and leader in the profession of chiropody in the mid-1800s, recognizes individuals who have made outstanding efforts and contributions to podiatric medical students and the profession.

APMSA presented its 2010 Company of the Year to Promet Orthotics.

MI Podiatrist Named Woman of The Year

Dr. Vicki Anton-Athens, a podiatrist with offices in Brownstown Township and Flat Rock, spends a great deal of her life helping others. The Grosse Ile resident has led more than a half- dozen personal and group medical missions to Guatemala to help children, and raises money for a variety of charities, as well.

Dr. Vicki Anton-Athens (center) (Photo: Dave Chapman)

The American Association of University Women’s Wyandotte-Downriver branch recently named her Woman of the Year. The award, presented by the group each March in conjunction with Women’s History Month, goes to those whose “efforts have strengthened, supported and/or made a difference in the lives of others in a significant way.”

Source: Paula Evans Neuman, The News-Herald [3/21/10]

Editor's Note: PM News is proud to present excerpts from Meet the Masters.

Bret Ribotsky: What unique strategies have you implemented in your practice?

Dr. Franklin Kase

Frank Kase: One thing I did was to buy my own medical building in 1985.  My father was a dentist who told me that he had the depression mentality. He said if you can own your building, you really have a tremendous rate of control of your life, which I have found to be extremely true. 

I have a scribe with me when I dictate my notes. I basically dictate, and then tell the scribe what I need. The scribe actually delegates it to somebody else, who is called the runner. For example, the runner goes out and gets me an ankle supporter and an Equilizer boot, or whatever else I need, and then I move to the next room.

Dr. Howard Dananberg

Meet the Masters is broadcast each Tuesday Night at 9 PM (EST). This week's show features  Dr. Howard Dananberg, biomechanics gura and inventor of Insolia inserts for high heel shoes. You can register for this event by clicking here

Query: PECOS Enrollment Confirmation

Where can I go to check to see if I am enrolled in PECOS?

Gregory Teles, DPM, Torrance, CA

Response: CMS has this information under a report entitled "Order and Referring Report" which can be found here.You will have to download this huge report (over 13,000 pages), and search for your name and NPI.

Since many names are often duplicated, it is possible your name will be there, but it will correspond to a different physician. CMS will be posting a new report on a periodic basis so this site should be frequented on a routine basis.

In your specific case, your last name is not listed. I would review the Internet-based Pecos tab on the same website above, and encourage you to start working on this asap. If you are a Codingline Gold or CodinglinePRINT subscriber, you may want to look at the latest CodinglinePRINT issue for more info.

Paul Kesselman, DPM, Woodside, NY

Codingline subscription information can be found at:
http://www.codingline.com/subscribe.htm

RE: Plantar Plate Tear (Brent Rubin, DPM)
From: John Chisholm, DPM

I have treated this injury in hundreds of patients, including professional runners and tri-athletes, and have tried all the orthotics and strappings and braces and splints. I cannot think of one single case that responded to treatment without the one week course of oral corticosteroid (in my case, prednisone) as described by the late, great Gerald Yu. Every time I start treatment and include this regimen, I get good results, and every time I let a patient talk me out of it, I get treatment failure. 
 
John Chisholm, DPM, Chula Vista, CA, dr_triguy@yahoo.com

RE: Scanning vs. Casting for Orthoses (Paul R. Scherer, DPM)
From: Michael Forman, DPM, Dennis Shavelson, DPM

Dr. Scherer's comments are well taken. I have been looking for a scanner for our practice. The prerequisites are:
1. It should show the weight-bearing in a relaxed calcaneal stance position (which most scanners do).
2. It must show the relationship of the forefoot to the rearfoot in neutral calcaneal stance or in the position the foot assumes in suspension casting. I would accept a machine that could measure this relationship semi-weight-bearing where we could control the position of the subtalar joint with internal and external leg rotation.
3. It must make a visual picture that can be kept in the chart.
4. It should be able to connect to the Internet so that the image can be sent to a podiatric orthotic lab.
5. It has to be affordable. A scanner will only make you more profitable by increasing your efficiency.  
 
I would choose not to increase our orthotic charges to make up for the expense of a scanner. I think issue two is the problem. If anyone knows of a scanner that can do this, please let me know.  
 
Michael Forman, DPM, Cleveland, OH, IM4MAN@aol.com

My opinion is that STJ neutral-casted, foamed and scanned orthotics are no longer the state-of- the-art in biomechanics and should be left to allied professionals and shoe clerks who are capable of imitating it. We should be...

Editor's Note: Dr. Shavelson's extended-length letter can be read here.

RE: Golf Shoe Fitting (Greg Caringi, DPM)
From: Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM

Go to a couple of golf stores and examine their golf shoes. Make a list of those you feel provide the stability necessary to accommodate one of your orthotics. In a sense, putting one of your orthotics into a proper golf shoes, professionally fits it. I have long suggested to my golfing friends that I can lower their handicaps with a pair of orthotics. It works more often than their buying a "new and improved" driver every year! 

Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM, Schaumburg, IL, Doc@FootSportsDoc.com

RE: St. Louis Podiatry Seminar
From: Mark K. Johnson, DPM

We just concluded an informative weekend of podiatric surgical and medical topics and exhibitors at the 22nd Annual St. Louis Podiatry Seminar. The atmosphere of camaraderie, science, and practical information created by Dr. Jacobs provided a chance to hear lectures and discuss topics with Drs. Jacobs, Laporta, Dockery, Markinson, Bakotic, Landsman, Crawford, et al.

My sincere appreciation to Dr. Jacobs for yet another over-the-top conference. Also, I would echo the sentiments of others in congratulating Allen on his PM Lifetime Achievement Award, and for his relentless contributions to our profession. Through many conferences through the years, he has always helped to increase my knowledge of the science, art, and passion of being a podiatrist.

Mark K. Johnson, DPM, West Plains, MO, ddr004@centurytel.net

RE: Shelf-Life of Phenol (Amy Wahl, DPM)
From: James Ricketti, DPM

I invented the Phenol EZ Swabs in 1990 with Solarcare Technologies Corporation and now sold by Pedinol. The Swabs are a ONE 60-second application per nail border as per originally performed by Dr. Otto Ball in 1949. The procedure became a three application technique per border because the phenol lost its strength within the first six months.

Dr. Sam Neidbala at Solarcare experimented with a typical podiatric bottle of phenol and tested for purity. His findings showed that the phenol denatured from 89% to 60% in three months. Also, transporting phenol from the pharmacy without a federal license is an offence. The Phenol EZ swab is transportable because of the safety packaging and chemical volume. Also, if  you use the J3490 code and bill for the CPT 11750, then the chemical is reimbursable by many insurances.

James Ricketti, DPM, Hamilton Sq., NJ, drj4foot2002@netscape.net

ASSOCIATE POSITION – LONG ISLAND 
 
Busy Bellmore, NY office. Motivated, board certified, hard-working, experienced in all phases of podiatry. F/T, P/T hours available. excellent salary, call 516 242-7540 or Fax Resume 516 826-9036 or email jobke@aol.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION – CALIFORNIA

Looking for a motivated Podiatrist to join a rapidly growing practice in Los Angeles. Excellent compensation. Please reply to coasttocoastpodiatry@yahoo.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

We’re seeking an energetic and enthusiastic Associate to help our thriving non-surgical practice grow. We provide state-of-the-art sports medicine, trauma and lower extremity care. Excellent compensation package. Visit our website to apply.

ASSOCIATE POSITION - NORTHERN VIRGINIA/DC SUBURB

Excellent associate practice opportunity leading to partnership for PSR 24-36 foot and ankle surgically-trained physician. Currently 4-doctor/2 office practice in fast-growing area, expanding to 5 doctors. Hard working, personable, highly-motivated individuals needed. Great opportunity with excellent salary and benefits. No nursing homes. Top hospitals. Fax CV with references to 703-491-9994

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.

ASSOCIATE POSITION-BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA

We are seeking an energetic individual to join our multi-office practice in Northern California. PSR 24+ with a California license is required. Partnership position is possible with an excellent long term business opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated individual. Please send resume to Mwolpafootdoc@yahoo.com

TWO YEAR FELLOWSHIP IN RECONSTRUCTIVE FOOT SURGERY AND RESEARCH

2-year fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a primary teaching hospital for Harvard Medical School. Fellows have clinic, perform complex reconstructive procedures (external fixation, flaps, Charcot reconstruction), and conduct clinical research (20%). Fellows train residents and receive appointment to Harvard Medical School faculty. Excellent salary/benefits. Program begins SEPTEMBER 1st, 2010. Must have completed PSR-36 or similar. Submit applications to: Dafny Suazo at dsuazo@bidmc.harvard.edu Include CV, letter describing goals and any research interests. Deadline: April 30, 2010. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School are Equal Opportunity Employers.

FULL-TIME PODIATRY OPPORTUNITY - BOSTON, MA

HealthDrive is seeking a caring podiatrist to join our group practice. We currently have a FT non-surgical opportunity available in the Boston, MA area. We offer a competitive salary, Paid malpractice Insurance, health and dental Insurance, long & short term disability, flexible schedule (No weekends), established patient base, equipment, supplies and complete office support provided. If interested in this opportunity, please call Maria Kelleher (toll free) at 877-724-4410 or email caring@healthdrive.com 

ASSOCIATE POSITION-INLAND EMPIRE, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Associate needed full or part-time for multi office practice. Must be ABPS BC/BQ. Hard working, ethical individual who is looking to a possible partnership opportunity. Looking for current licensed or resident completing program this spring. Email CV to bkatzman2@earthlink.net or call Martha 909 984-5614.

PM News Classified Ads Reach over 12,000 DPM's and Students

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