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PM News |
The Voice of Podiatrists
Serving Over 15,768 Podiatrists Daily
March 24, 2014 #5,020 Publisher-Barry Block, DPM, JD
A partner of Podiatry Management http://www.podiatrym.com E-mail us by hitting the reply key. COPYRIGHT 2014- No part of PM News can be reproduced without the written permission of Barry Block
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RESIDENCY SHORTAGE CRISIS |
Unmatched Graduates Scramble for Remaining Unfilled Positions
The scramble is officially on. On Thursday, 117 qualified podiatric graduating students from this year and from previous classes received the news that they did not initially match with the residency programs of their choice. 46 programs also reported no match for their selected candidates. The hectic scramble began to find secondary matches. As of today, 25 of those positions have been filled, leaving 83 unmatched graduates for 22 positions. PM News will be publishing the official AACPM post-scramble statistics when they become available later this week.
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PM NEWS QUICK POLL |
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Results of Last Week's Poll |
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INTERNATIONAL PODIATRISTS IN THE NEWS |
Start Spring Exercise Program Slowly: Canadian Podiatrist
Gung ho about racing into a spring exercise program? “Don’t rush!” cautions Regina foot specialist Dr. Riaz Bagha. “Do it gradually,” the veteran podiatrist recommends to prevent foot and ankle pain and injury. “An average person puts 700 tons of weight on each foot each day,” Bagha points out. “So take good care of your feet.” “If you are generally healthy and you develop sudden onset of foot and ankle pain, remember RICE … Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.”
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Dr. Riaz Bagha |
Today’s foot-clinic technologies can help people walk away from foot pain and injury. But for medical advice, consult your doctor first, Bagha advises. “You need to take good care of your feet so that you can keep walking. You already know that walking is the best form of exercise. What you may not know is that in an average lifetime, you walk five to six times around the world. Now that is news to put a spring in your step!”
Source: Irene Seiberling, Regina Leader-Post [3/22/14]
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HOSPITAL PODIATRISTS IN THE NEWS |
WV Podiatrist Joins Staff at Pleasant Valley Hospital
Pleasant Valley Hospital (PVH) has three new surgeons who will join Dr. Clifford Roberson at PVH Orthopaedics. Dr. Ali Oliashirazi, Dr. Alan Koester, and Dr. Zach Tankersley, from the department of orthopaedics at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, will soon be providing services at PVH.
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Dr. Zach Tankersley |
Tankersley is an associate professor and chief of the foot and ankle surgical service at Marshall Orthopaedics. He also serves as the team podiatrist for the Marshall University Thundering Herd and an adjunct professor in the division of exercise science, sport and recreation at Marshall University. He is board-certified in foot and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgery and specializes in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, deformity correction, and diabetic limb preservation surgery.
Source: Mydailyregister.com [3/22/14]
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DIABETES RESEARCH |
Diabetic Foot Ulcers and the Economic Burden on Insurers
Patients with diabetic foot ulcers have an annual burden on Medicare of $11,710, and $16,883 for private insurance. The objective of this study was to estimate the annual, per-patient incremental burden of diabetic foot ulcers. Patients with diabetic foot ulcers were randomly selected from a Medicare beneficiary database and compared with non-diabetic foot ulcer patients, serving as controls. Patients were matched based upon similar characteristics to help limit confounding variables.
After matching patients to non-diabetic controls, data was analyzed over a 12 month follow-up period. Compared to matched controls, patients with diabetic foot ulcers had:
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more days hospitalized (Medicare +138.2%, Private +173.5%)
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more days requiring home healthcare (Medicare +85.4%, Private +230.0%),
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more emergency department visits (Medicare +40.6%, Private +109.0%)
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more outpatient/physician office visits (Medicare +35.1%, Private +42.5%)
Source: Rice JB, Desai U, Cummings AK, Birnbaum HG, Skornicki M, Parsons NB. "Burden of diabetic foot ulcers for medicare and private insurers." Diabetes Care. 2014;37(3):651-8 via Diabetes in Control [3/20/14]
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QUERIES (CLINICAL) |
Query: Night Cramps
I'm at a loss in my treatment of night cramps. I've done the OTC "stuff" with tonic water with some success. The sedatives, antidepressants, and muscle relaxers have had mixed to poor results with lots of side-effects and disqualified patients due to unrelated medications and conditions. I was pretty comfortable with the risk/reward of the quinine sulfate until the FDA eliminated that care plan. I've never been able to match my success/compliance since then. Any suggestions?
M.E. Weaver, DPM, Fort Myers, FL
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QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL) |
Query: Concierge Podiatry
Is concierge practice a viable option for podiatry? If anyone has converted to this type of practice, please post your experience here.
Thomas Graziano, DPM, MD, Clifton, NJ
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RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) |
The Passing of Keith Springer, DPM
I am devastated to report that our friend and colleague Dr. Keith Springer lost his courageous battle with stomach cancer today. Please remember Keith and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Michael Trepal, DPM, NY, NY
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RESPONSES/COMMENTS (CLINICAL) - PART 1 |
From: Sloan Gordon, DPM
I have given these injections frequently. Since I cannot find an acceptable code for them, I give the patient an Rx for the injection. They come to the office, and I do a sterile prep and inject the ankle. I find 2ccs work fine weekly x 3 injections. I bill for a local block, which I do first.
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RESPONSES/COMMENTS (CLINICAL)- PART 2 |
From: Khurram Khan, DPM
Wells PS, Anderson DR, Bormanis J, et al. Value of assessment of pretest probability of deep-vein thrombosis in clinical management. Lancet. 1997 Dec 20-27;350(9094):1795-8. and this article in Chest. Feb 2012; 141(2 Suppl): e351S–e418S. states favored strategies for diagnosis of first DVT combine use of pre-test probability assessment, D-dimer, and US.
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Codes for Podiatric Medicine and More! 2013/2014 (26th Edition)
Make the transition this year with minimal stress and ultimate convenience.
This two-volume set contains podiatric medicine specific ICD-9-CM, ICD-10-CM (cross-referenced), E/M, HCPCS, CPT, E/M, E, and V codes, modifiers, guidelines for wound care, diabetic foot care, the Medicare Diabetes Shoe Program, and more.
Telephone and email support is provided at no additional cost for help with your tough coding questions.
Accept no substitutes. My publication is the one that you hear about. Join the thousands of satisfied podiatrists using my coding manuals for over 25 years. Available for immediate shipping!
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RESPONSES/COMMENTS (CLINICAL) - PART 3 |
From: Elliot Udell, DPM
Thus far, the only ones who responded to Len Levy's concerns about laser therapy for onychomycosis were those who are providers of laser equipment. Dr. Levy quoted a paper published in a significant dermatology journal. This paper was picked up and quoted in a widely read newspaper and is available online. I do not use lasers to treat onychomycosis in my practice, but would love to hear from those colleagues who do use it whether the article quoted by Dr. Levy is correct or incorrect.
A patient who presented to my office today, read the article in the NY Times and thinks that podiatrists who use lasers to treat mycotic nails are crooks. She is livid because she paid a colleague of ours $900 for the treatment, and it did not help her. I am willing to give this fellow podiatrist the benefit of the doubt. Not every treatment works every time.
Perhaps some of you who have used this modality on many patients can enter this discussion and let us know your experience with lasers for the treatment of mycotic nails.
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RESPONSES/COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 1 |
From: Stephen Musser, DPM, Philip J. Shapiro, DPM
Absolutely not. My personal opinion is that there is too much medicine to learn even in four years. One of my physicians during my residency years gave the analogy that learning medicine in four years is like standing in front of a fire hydrant, turning it on, and then trying to swallow all the water that is gushing out. Besides, I'd be willing to bet the medical/podiatry school will just finance the cost of the fourth year into the first three.
Back in the mid-1970s, there was a trial program for podiatrists, dentists, and MDs to get their degrees in an accelerated 3-year program that essentially was year-round for the 3 years. With hardly any publicity, it vanished. I suspect that the problem was keeping the students going year-round and burning them out. If a 3-year program is to be resurrected, careful thought needs to be applied as to the issue of mandatory credit hours both clinically and academically. Unless the mandatory credit hours can be proportionally reduced – which is doubtful – I see no reason to repeat a failed program. Yes, educating a medical professional is expensive, and there is the legitimate question of the bubble market, but the issue is not time, but rather the scope of what is mandatorily placed on the curriculum. As it is, 4 years is the norm for the degree, and then add 3 years for a residency training.
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MEETING NOTICES - PART 2
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RESPONSES/COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 2 |
RE: Laws and Rules for Florida License
From: Melissa Carter
The Florida Medical Association (FMA) has developed an online Florida Laws and Rules course for podiatric physicians who need this course for the March 2014 renewal. The URL for this course is podiatristonlinece.com.
No special log-in information required. You will be able to establish a profile to purchase and complete the course entirely online. Once you complete the course and post-test successfully, we will report your credit to CE Broker on your behalf. Remember, it is important that you include your Florida license number when you register to prevent reporting delays. If you have any questions, feel free to call the FMA Education Department at 800-762-0233, or the Department of Health at 850-488-0595. We hope that you will find this course helpful.
Melissa Carter, VP of Education, Florida Medical Association
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CLASSIFIED ADS |
ASSOCIATE POSITION - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Very busy, two location group practice seeking a full-time, self-motivated and hard-working podiatry associate. Competitive salary offered. Please email CV to: podiatrists@icloud.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION - NORTH CAROLINA - GREENSBORO/TRIAD AREA
Busy, state-of-the-art group practice seeking full time associate. PSR 24 or above training preferred. Excellent opportunity for a highly motivated and ethical applicant. Competitive income and benefit package. Hospital privileges available. Board certified/qualified applicant, send CV and letter of interest to triad.podiatrist@yahoo.com
FULL-TIME ASSOCIATE POSITION – FLORIDA PANHANDLE
Immediate position available for hard-working, motivated individual in a well-established practice. Equal mix of primary care and surgery. Excellent opportunity to get on all insurance panels. Board qualified/Certified with ABPS preferred. Competitive salary and benefit package. Please email CV and letter of interest to kmoore@feetareneat.com.
ASSOCIATE POSITION - HUDSON VALLEY REGION, NY
Hudson Valley Foot Associates has a great opportunity available! We’re a high-volume, diversified, multi-office group practice utilizing state-of-the-art modalities. Great growth for a personable and motivated DPM. Please visit www.hvfa.com and forward cover letter with CV to info@hvfa.com.
ASSOCIATE POSITION - CENTRAL FLORIDA
Associate wanted for well-established practice in central Florida. Multi Physician Practice – Multi Practice Locations Competitive Salary and Benefits. Experienced support staff. Excellent opportunity for a promising future. To apply please go to www.yourcareerinpodiatry.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION - KENTUCKY
Immediate opening for palliative/general podiatric care provider in established clinics, nursing home and assistive living settings in beautiful Southern Kentucky. Travel involved, but transportation provided along with ability to provide a wide range of clinical care including DME. Board certification not mandatory, but must be eligible for KY state license. Base salary with incredible bonus opportunity/full benefits. Join Kentucky’s largest and most respected podiatric group. Email CV and letter of interest to: jonkim12000@yahoo.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION - SOUTHEAST FL
Associate wanted for mobile service to provide palliative care, diabetic and wound care. Good pay, flexible hours. Assistant provided. Send CV or letter of interest to info@dropinternational.org or call 800.779.8551
ASSOCIATE POSITION - NORTHERN NEW JERSEY
Position available leading to buy in after 6-12 months for the right person. Well established practice all aspects of care. Modern facility and latest technology. Need a self-starter ambitious person to work and grow the practice. Send Resume and cover letter to DRFOOT44@gmail.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION – SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Immediate associate position available. Applicant should be personal, self-motivated and independent. Will provide diabetic treatments, biomechanical exams, minor office procedures, major surgical corrections, in-home care. Great surgical growth potential. Competitive compensation package. Send letter of intent and CV to: admin@blaskodpm.com.
ASSOCIATE NEEDED - CONNECTICUT
Position available for a board certified or qualified individual who has an emphasis on DM foot care and is comfortable with all surgical aspects of forefoot, rearfoot and ankle surgery. Excellent opportunity for a surgeon. Competitive salary and benefits offered and a perfect community to raise a family. fax resume to bfsoffice@4udr.com
POSITIONS AVAILABLE - BUFFALO, UPSTATE NY, AND CONNECTICUT
Looking for podiatrists to see residents in nursing homes in Buffalo, Upstate New York and Connecticut. Great opportunity for supplemental or full time income. Email inquiries to phasetwopodiatry@gmail.com
PODIATRISTS WANTED – NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Podiatrists wanted for fully managed practice in skilled nursing facilities in the following areas: 1. Chico and Meadowood 2. Sacramento 3. Fresno – local and up to one hour south. Send CV and area of interest to: ZBUBBLESZ@aol.com
FULL-TIME ASSOCIATE POSITION - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Well established 65 year old practice looking for full time associate upon completion of a 36-month residency. Salary and full benefits including medical and malpractice included. Purchase opportunity available after probationary period. Full scope modern practice with 2 office locations. Great opportunity. Please email your CV to bkatzman2@verizon.net
PODIATRY OFFICE AVAILABLE – MANHATTAN
Turn-key office available in high volume areas on Upper East Side of Manhattan to lease or share. Digital x-ray, MRI, CT scanner, fluoroscopy, diagnostic ultrasound, and fungal laser. Price based on usage. Call 516-476-1815 or email podo2345@aol.com.
PODIATRY OFFICE AVAILABLE – NORTH SHORE, LONG ISLAND
Turn-key 4-treatment room office available in high volume area of Plainview, NY to lease or share. Digital x-ray, MRI, CT scanner, fluoroscopy, diagnostic ultrasound, and fungal laser. Price based on usage. Call 516-476-1815 or email podo2345@aol.com.
PART-TIME PRACTICE FOR SALE - GLENDALE CALIFORNIA
Rid yourself of totally relying on insurance payments for your services by using fluid Silicone implants. Great financial potential for an informed Podiatrist willing to promote this knowledge. 818-384-2479
PRACTICE FOR SALE - SOUTHWEST FL
Multilocation multidoctor practice in beautiful Southwest Florida. Practice has grossed over seven figures consistently and currently shows 10-15% growth in revenues with increase in new patients and patient visits. EHR is already implemented with meaningful use criteria met. Practice has been professionally evaluated by Provider Resources. Only serious inquiries to this email address. This is a great practice in Paradise and a good opportunity for the right doctor or doctors. Email to: practiceforsaleswfla@gmail.com
PM News Classified Ads Reach over 15,500 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 15,500 DPMs. for details, click here or write to: bblock@podiatrym.com or call (718) 897-9700 for details. For commercial or display ads contact David Kagan at (800) 284-5451
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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.
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