The Voice of Podiatrists

Serving Over 9,500 Podiatrists Daily

March 29, 2007 #2,896 Editor-Barry Block, DPM, JD

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IL Podiatrist Discusses Causes of Leg Cramps in Children

Who hasn't had a charley horse? An out-of-the-blue leg cramp as intense as a kick from a horse. Experts say a charley horse can be the result of sore muscles, a mineral deficiency or hormonal imbalance or even calcification, in which blood gets trapped in a muscle and hardens.

Dr. David Powell

Dr. David Powell, an Evansville, IL podiatrist, tells parents who refer to leg cramps in their children as "growing pains," that this term isn't accurate. He says other possible causes have to be ruled out, but often these active children have a foot that flattens where the muscles at the leg bone are attached. At night the lower leg muscles that try to hold the foot properly cramp from being tired. A shoe insert can do wonders.

Source: Rich Davis, Courier & Press [3/28/07]

IL Podiatrist Runs For District Board

A local podiatrist is among the field of seven candidates running for three open seats on the Hoffman Estates Park District board. Current park board Treasurer Wendell Howell, the lone incumbent, is joined on the April 17 ballot by challenger Dr. Robert Steinberg, a one-time park board president looking to make a comeback.

Dr. Robert Steinberg

Steinberg, who is running on a ticket with Dasakis and Scafidi, said recent staffing cuts have come at the expense of park and facility maintenance. “As we’ve added more acreage, we haven’t added more employees to keep the properties maintained,” said Steinberg, a 60-year-old podiatrist who was on the park board for much of the ’90s, including several years as board president. He said if elected he would push to add four or five new maintenance workers.

Source: Ed Fanselow, The Daily Herald [3/27/07]

Rosen Retires After 40 Years of Practice

Stanford Rosen, DPM, a 1966 graduate of the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, has retired after 40 years of active practice. In 1971 Rosen was appointed as an assistant professor of podiatry in medicine at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham, AL. He was also in charge of the first physician’s assistants program in diabetic medicine. His role was extended to assist in the development and eventual building of the Diabetes Hospital, in which podiatry became an important component part.

Dr. Stanford Rosen

In addition to his private practice in Birmingham, AL, Rosen was first podiatrist to practice in the Cayman Islands. He held positions as president of the Alabama Podiatric Medical Association and on the Alabama Board of Podiatry. He also was the National President of The Academy of Ambulatory Foot Surgery, as well as its executive director. He also served on the Advisory Board of The Academy of Pain Management. He authored many articles and lectured in many venues about subjects in podiatry and pain management.

Sen. Clinton Cites Lack of Coverage for Podiatric Care as Wrong

On Monday, March 26, 2007 Presidential Candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) appeared on ABC News "Good Morning America" answering questions from Des Moines, Iowa where she was putting on a Town Hall Meeting discussing the nations issues. The topic discussed on the air was healthcare.

Clinton stated "......Survey after survey says that people on Medicare are satisfied with Medicare. So when we talk lets, lets be really clear because there is a lot of mis-information and frankly a lot of scare tactics about what Universal Healthcare would mean. I am an expert on this, and I have the scars to show from what we went through in 93 and 94. And so that's why I started by saying we have to reduce costs and improve quality no matter what we do. If we kept the system we have its very hard to do that, because there are no incentives to change what people are paid to do.

Let me give you a quick example: If you are pre-diabetic it's hard to find insurance that will actually pay for you to go to a nutritionist or pay for you to go to a podiatrist to check your feet, but they will pay for you to have your foot amputated. Now that is just backwards. It costs more money, it causes a lot more hospitalization. It's wrong."

Source: Good Morning America (ABC) [3/26/07] via Samuel Cox, DPM

Query: Post-op Care for Severe Ankle Laceration

I treated a 25 y/o female who sustained a complete laceration of the Achilles, peroneals, FHL/FDL, and tibial nerve. She underwent primary repair of the tendons and re-approximation of the nerve ends 1.5 weeks ago. I am looking for recommendations as far as physical therapy, type and length of immobilization, and when to institute ROM. I have read some articles suggesting ultrasound may improve the tendon healing and e. stim. may help to limit atrophy of the denervated intrinsics. Any advice would be welcome ,including prognosis for regaining any sensation/function to the plantar aspect of the foot.

Judd Davis, DPM, Colorado Springs, CO

RE: Overpayment by Insurance Company
From: Name Withheld, Paul Kesselman, DPM

Recently, I received an incorrect payment of $350.00 from my local Blue Shield carrier. I immediately called them, and after several minutes and calls, convinced them that the payment was not mine but another physicians. I was told to write "VOID" on the check and return it in an envelope they would provide. Needles to say , I never got the envelope but and they charged me an offset of $350.00 on my next check. Several calls later, yada, yada, yada --- so far I'm still out $350.00. Hopefully, acting ethically is it's own reward, because economically it doesn't pay well.

Name Withheld

The proper way to handle an excess payment is not to simply return the check to the insurance company and certainly NEVER to the address from where the check was issued. I learned this a long time ago from Medicare and a secondary when they paid me for a few patients who were not mine. Simply refunding the money (or tearing up the check) unduly deprives the practitioner of what may be rightfully theirs and does not set in motion the required paper trail to prove you've refunded the money. Additionally, checks often are for payments for multiple patients' services, so it's not simply a matter of sending them a check for the excess or returning the check and asking for a new one( a process which could take up to six weeks for some carriers). Medicare and other carriers have in the past identified the following strategies to me should I be paid in error again.

Your bookkeeper should alert the insurance company in writing of the overpayment, upon depositing the check. A letter should go to the carrier's refunds department and should contain the check number and date (a copy will suffice), the patient's identifying demographics, claim number, procedure code and the amount you believe you were paid in excess. If the excess is due to an overage on more than one patient or due to an addition error on multiple patients claims this should be identified.

The letter should end by stating you would like to know where and how to send them the excess payment. This formality is required in order to set in motion the required paper trail which will preclude the carrier from assessing any fines and penalties. This also allows the carrier to do a proper accounting of their expenditures.

Paul Kesselman, DPM, Woodside, NY, pkesselman@pol.net

RE: New Competitive Bidding Website
From: Paul Kesselman, DPM

Palmetto GBA, the competitive bidding implementation contractor, has announced the creation of a new website. This can be found at:
http://www.dmecompetitivebid.com/cbic/cbic.nsf/(pages)/home

This website is full of information regarding competitive bidding as well as some information on the accreditation process. Once the final ruling on competitive bidding is announced, more information will be presented on this website.

For now, most suppliers should begin to familiarize themselves with the Website’s content. Suppliers in areas likely to be included in the first round of competitive bidding should pay careful attention to the contents of this website as they will be the first required to become accredited.

Paul Kesselman, DPM, Woodside, NY, pkesselman@pol.net

RE: Withdrawal of APMA Resolution 13-07 (Single Certifying Board)
From: Samuel Cox, DPM

I am disappointed and saddened by the fact that the representatives of APBS and ABPOPPM were able to get the sponsors of this resolution to withdraw it, because they expressed a willingness to discuss board certification issues related to Vision 2015. This topic has been discussed for years and has been discussed at the HOD before. We have given APBS and ABPOPPM enough time to get their acts straight and work towards a final result of one board.

I understand that unifying the two recognized boards would cause some of the very people involved either to lose their jobs or be required to move to a central location. We need to look at the profession as a whole. We are a fairly small profession. We need to provide the public with a united front as a profession and board certification is a very important part of the puzzle. We are too small to have more than one recognized board of podiatry (ex: American Board of Podiatric Medicine & Surgery). It confuses the public in general and by that I mean mostly the hospitals, surgery centers, and insurance carriers. The everyday individual general just looks a board certified doctor in general and not which board. Abraham Lincoln said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

Look what the APMA has been able to do over the last several years on the political front with a more united association. The more united we become as a profession, the stronger we become. That will work for all of us and all will be benefited. Good job APMA, keep it up. Our profession needs to continue to mature. Those that feel they will lose something if the boards unite should instead look at the added power our profession will have as we become more united.

Samuel Cox, DPM Avondale, AZ, scox@cox.net

Lynn Homisak Weds Denis De Boer

Lynn Homisak weds Denis De Boer

Join the podiatric community in congratulating one of Podiatry Management’s favorites, Lynn Homisak, PRT on her recent marriage to Denis De Boer. Sailing the seas on Sovereign on The Seas, they were joined by many friends and family, many who are well known national speakers and leaders of the American Academy of Podiatric Medicine. Their smiles say it all!

Source: Hal Ornstein, DPM

FELLOWSHIP POSITION AVAILABLE – NEW YORK

Fellowship in Wound Management at North Shore-LIJ Health System is available for the academic year 2007-2008. This is a CPME-approved fellowship and provides training at 3 separate hospitals within the health system. It involves the medical and surgical management of complicated wounds as well as rotations in plastic surgery and vascular surgery. The fellow also participates in wound clinics and hyperbaric centers. For further information please contact Edward Buro DPM, program director, at Mayfairfootcare@aol.com

ASSOCIATE WANTED – BRONX, NEW YORK

Seeking an ethical and personable Board Certified/Eligible residency trained individual (PM&S 24/36). Position available June 1, 2007 to become part of this prestigious and established NYC podiatric practice operating for 25+ years. All aspects of podiatry - Excellent opportunity leading to partnership with unlimited income potential and more. Fax CV to (718) 931-9324. WWW.BRONXFOOTCARE.COM

PRACTICE FOR SALE -CHARLOTTE, NC. EAST SIDE

Long-established fully equipped podiatry practice located in pleasant office park ; Excellent office software with electronic billing; biomechanics, general podiatry with well equipped, in-office OR. Call 704-553-7327 after 7 PM EDT.

PRACTICE FOR SALE - MAINE, SOUTHERN COAST

Established practice with excellent reputation for sale. Practice with well-developed infrastructure and location. Current technology in place. Strong patient flow. Good mix of surgery and office based care. dpminmaine@comcast.net

ASSOCIATE POSITION – CENTRAL NEW JERSEY

Associate Wanted....For well established Central Jersey practice, diversified in all aspects of podiatric medicine and surgery. I am looking for a highly motivated, conscientious, individual with strong work ethics. My practice may offer great potential for the right person. Minimum PSR 24. Please reply to Jerseypod@gmail.com

PRACTICE FOR SALE - BUFFALO, NY

Part Time Practice with full growth potential. Mi of conservative, biomechanics and diabetic foot care. Great surgical potential. Gross 180K. Willing to stay through transition. Call 716-836-8123.

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 sher18@yahoo.com

WELL ESTABLISHED PODIATRY PRACTICE IN MT. AIRY, NC

Dr. John H. Hodges had a well established practice in Mt. Airy, NC that is either for sale or in need of an associate/partner to take over patient care. Dr. Hodges unexpectedly passed away, leaving approximately 3,500 patients. This is a unique opportunity to be able to begin work in a busy podiatric practice. If interested, contact Carolyn McMackin at (336)577-2886 or cmcmackin@triad.rr.com

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

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 WANTED - BOCA RATON-DELRAY BEACH AREA

Full time for growing practice-surgical training a plus-hard working a real plus-opportunity of a lifetime-partnership after 1yr. Need Florida license. Fax resume to 561-865-2225

ASSOCIATE WANTED – NEW YORK IMMEDIATE OPENING

Busy multi-dimensional practice; 70 miles north of New York City. Currently five (5)-doctor practice. looking to expand – all phases of podiatric medicine. contact: (845) 454-8308 EXT: 106

ASSOCIATE POSITION - NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Well-established, busy, diversified, multioffice/multidoctor practice seeking associate with opportunity for partnership. Must be highly motivated and ethical with strong interpersonal and patient skills. Excellent opportunity for PSR 24 or higher trained DPM to complement a full-scope podiatric medical and surgical practice. Competitive salary and benefits package. Please send CV and references to saglag2@aol.com or fax to (703) 368-5103.

ASSOCIATE POSITION – HOUSTON, TEXAS

Lepow Podiatric Medical Associates looking for board certified podiatrist to join their six location group practice in Houston. Competitive salary and benefits. Email CV to lepowft@cs.com

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