The Voice of Podiatrists

Serving Over 12,500 Podiatrists Daily

April 01, 2011 #4,123 Publisher-Barry Block, DPM, JD

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MD Podiatrist Discusses Price of OTC vs. Custom Orthotics

At a time when you can receive a flu shot, eye glasses, and wart removal during a quick trip to the drugstore, it's no surprise that you can now get a pair of orthotics too. Orthotics kiosks are popping up at pharmacies throughout the country — CVS has one at many of its stores, Walgreens too — and while they're convenient, they're also controversial to doctors and physical therapists. 

Dr. James Christina

If orthotics are recommended for you, you have a choice: a custom-fit pair created to fit your feet and your health problem, or a pair from CVS, Target, or nearly every other store selling medical items. The major difference is price. A good over-the-counter pair may be $30-$40, while a custom set could run $400-$600, said Dr. James Christina, a podiatrist and director of scientific affairs for the American Podiatric Medical Association.
   
Source: Danielle Braff, Chicago Tribune [3/30/11]

NY Podiatrist Appointed as NYCPM Deputy Board Chairman

Rock G. Positano, DPM, MSc, MPH, Director of the Non-Surgical Foot and Ankle Service at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM) since January 2009, has been appointed Deputy Chairman of the NYCPM Board. Positano, a 1988 graduate of NYCPM, is nationally known for his non-surgical approach to the treatment of foot disorders. Dr. Positano is on staff at the Hospital for Special Surgery and currently serves as Director of the Foot Center, Sports Medicine section, at the Orthopedic Trauma Service, New York-Presbyterian/Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Dr. Rock Positano

Dr. Positano holds professorial appointments in the Departments of Orthopedics and Medicine and is the Chairman of the Academic Department of Orthopedic Science at NYCPM and the Foot Center of New York. In addition to his DPM degree from NYCPM, Dr. Positano holds a Master of Public Health degree from the Yale School of Medicine and a Master of Science degree from the Institute of Environmental Medicine at the NYU School of Medicine.

NY Podiatrist Lauds APMA

Dr. Robert Bijak of Clarence Center, NY has announced that he will be re-joining the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). Bijak has long been a critic of APMA leadership and its policies. "I've come to the realization that maybe podiatry needs to remain autonomous from allopathic medicine," says Bijak. 

Dr. Robert Bijak

"Besides, it's time to give up the silly idea of being MD's and DO's and be content with the anonymity of the DPM degree. After all, being DPM's has its benefits. Our students won't have to study hard for the USMLE exams", says Bijak. "Finally, we don't have to worry about patients' expectations. We can just continue to "refer out" what we haven't learned. We can simply tell them, "we're not medical doctors, we're just podiatrists."

Source: April Fools News [4/1/11]

CMS Issues Proposed ACO Regulation

HHS has issued its proposed regulation on accountable care organizations (ACOs), the new delivery and payment model the agency estimates could serve up to 5 million Medicare beneficiaries through participating providers, and also potentially save the Medicare program as much as $960 million over three years.

An ACO is a group of providers and suppliers of healthcare services who work together to coordinate care for patients they serve with “original” Medicare, or those who are not in Medicare Advantage private plans. Under the rule, the CMS would continue to pay individual healthcare providers and suppliers as it does under Medicare, and also develop a benchmark for each ACO against which its performance is measured to determine if the ACO qualifies to receive shared savings or be held accountable for losses.

Source: Rich Daly and Jessica Zigmond, Modern Healthcare [3/31/11]

Balance Risk Vs. Reward When Making Small Talk

Balance risk against potential rewards when you consider addressing a contentious topic as you make small talk with others. Divisive topics, including politics and crude jokes, can create tension and upset relationships. Unless you are 100% certain how your comments will be received, avoid making them.

Source: Adapted from “Quick Assertive Communication Skills for Professionals" via Communication Briefings

RE: Obesity and Foot Pain (Narmo Ortiz, DPM)
From: Stephen Weinberg, DPM,

As a point of clarification to  Dr. Ortiz's comments on obesity/foot problems, I, too, thought that the message in Wall-E depicting the humans living in outer space was that we are turning into obese blobs of flesh, living a life of sloth. However, I would refer Dr. Ortiz to an NPR interview by Terry Gross with Andrew Stanton, the director and writer of the movie, in which he states that his intent was to portray disuse atrophy from lack of gravity, creating us into boneless "blobs of Jello" like a new-born waiting to grow up (it's 30 mins. into a 38 min. interview).

I also feel that it is incumbent upon us to address the overweight/obesity epidemic with our patients, and try to understand what their obstacles are to becoming more active and eating more nutritiously, and collaborating with them to get them moving.

Stephen Weinberg, DPM, Des Plaines, IL, saweinbergdpm@aol.com

RE: Answering Service (Bela Pandit, DPM)
From: Jack Sasiene, DPM

I quit using an answering service three years ago as the cost kept going up, and their service was part human response and part "the patient left a message we retrieved later." I figure, why pay them for what I could do. I bought a cordless system from Panasonic that has a base unit and can expand w/cordless units. It can handle numerous voice mail boxes and multiple messages, and auto-answer to leave a message if your staff is busy .

We record a message that tells patients: "If you have an emergency and have just had surgery, or you are a current patient seen in the office in the last two weeks, please call #... Otherwise, please go to the emergency room as we can't help you over the phone, if we have not recently seen you in the office." This is followed by the usual "leave a message for..., etc." 

I have had less than five calls in three years that I would consider unnecessary. It can also depend on your community, but it cost $500 for the base unit and $100 for each cordless. It paid for itself in half a year or less.

Jack Sasiene, DPM, Texas City, TX, Sasiene@aol.com

RE: Answering Service (Bela Pandit, DPM)
From: Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM

If you think any answering service will be perfect in handling when to and when not to page, give up. It's not going to happen. Their employees change on a daily basis! If having an answering service is a replacement for an employee, or lessens employee hours, then whatever the cost, it's a bargain.
 
If you want online scheduling, you need to do that on your website. When someone requests an appointment, an e-mail can be sent to YOUR smartphone so you can respond 24/7, or you can use a very expensive office management software package that can be accessed from your website. If you are really busy, this may be the way to go.
 
Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM, Schaumburg, IL, Doc@FootSportsDoc.com

RE: Answering Service (Bela Pandit, DPM)
From: Bob Kuvent, DPM

Check out ladieswithpencils.com They are friendly and efficient. They charge per hour but only for the time they are speaking on the phone, so the service actually costs pennies. We have used them > 1 year and have had nothing but positive reviews.

Bob Kuvent, DPM, Chandler, AZ, FtFixr@gmail.com

RE: Basic Website Cost (Thomas E. Silver, DPM)
From: Marc Garfield, DPM

I use a Virginia Beach based company (InMotion) for $7.00/month. It comes with 250 email accounts and complete control of content. However, if you are in an area with a lot of competing websites and are not knowledgeable in optimization with Google in particular, you may do better to pay for some of the more expensive services. Inmotion does offer this as well, for an additional fee.

The site is inmotionhosting.com/?gclid=CI7b_bHs-KcCFeUbQgod3UmusA

Marc Garfield, DPM, Williamsburg, VA, mgarfield1@cox.net

RE: Scuba Dive in Fashionable Shoes

Women have figured out a way to wear heels for virtually every occasion, but how about heels for scuba-diving? If you're Jessica Simpson, flipper heels sound like a really good idea. Simpson has built a successful shoe business with stylish, reasonably priced heels, and now she's looking to expand her empire. Earlier this week, she tweeted a pic of her inspiration, saying, "Scuba gear coming soon for @jscollection heels for every occasion."

Jessica Simpson Scuba Heels

We traced the scuba shoe to Lisa Carney, an Australian designer who made the heels in 2002 for Mercedes Australian Fashion Week. And as you can imagine, they're not the easiest to walk in. Jean-Paul Gautier had a model take a tumble on the runway in a pair of these "flipeels." Ouch. In this case, fashion doesn't meet function, but if you want to walk into a room and make a statement, this just might be the way to do it.

Source: Julie Gerstein, My Daily [3/28/11] via Jeffrey Kass

ASSOCIATE POSITION - MICHIGAN

Entry level DPM needed to join an established, full service, group podiatry practice in Monroe, MI. A generous salary and future partnership opportunity will be offered to the right applicant. Check out our website at www.monpod.com Send CV and cover letter to info@monpod.com

POSITION AVAILABLE – NEW YORK

Well-established, multi-doctor podiatry practice with offices in Putnam and Westchester counties. Compensation based on productivity. Excellent opportunity for recent residency graduate to build skills and learn practice management. Full-time preferred but right part-time candidate will be considered. Email cover letter and CV to: Podiatry2011@gmail.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - NYC, NY

Part/time, full/time associate for busy, well established multi-doctor, multi-office NYC group. Seeking motivated, ethical, NYC licensed DPM with excellent office management and clinical skills in all phases of Podiatry. Board Qualified/Certified preferred. Salary plus incentives, pension/medical/dental. Partnership potential. E-Mail CV to urbebe78@aol.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - MANHATTAN

Podiatrist wanted full/part time for busy midtown Manhattan practice. Must participate in the networks Aetna, BlueCross, Oxford, and United Healthcare. Please respond to 44footcare@gmail.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - TEXAS

Are you looking for a busy, well-rounded practice experience?" Group practice in DFW area looking for a 3-year surgically-trained associate with a sports medicine background. Needs to be as comfortable making orthotics as fixing a complex flat foot. Email CV to crane@faant.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - CT - (FAIRFIELD AND NORTH HAVEN)

Join one of the largest podiatric groups in Connecticut. Well-established and progressive offices, including EMR, digital x-ray, vascular and NCV studies, Pinpointe and CO2 lasers, diagnostic ultrasound and electrical stimulation therapy. You can expect a full schedule of patients the day you start, and a very competitive salary. For more info www.greatfootcare.com. Send resume to Dr.Kassaris@yahoo.com

POSITION AVAILABLE – PHOENIX, ARIZONA

Full-time or part-time position available for an associate to join a modern, well established practice. Needed is a motivated, hard-working, well-rounded, surgically-trained podiatrist to complement our office. Excellent income potential with possible partnership opportunity available. Arizona license required. Email CV to Foot.doctor@hushmail.com

ASSOCIATE POSITIONS - NW INDIANA, CHICAGO AREA

2 Full-Time positions open - One for Northwest Indiana and one for the Chicagoland area. Must have 2-year surgical residency. Must be motivated and a self-starter. State License required. If interested email: f-massuda@footexperts.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - MARYLAND

Associate position for podiatry office on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Certified ambulatory surgery center on-site. Please fax letter and CV to 410-749-6807.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE- MIDMARK CHAIR

Midmark 647 podiatry procedure chairs, x2, condition new (only 1 yr.) , wired & wireless foot controls, block screen, base rails, light and dark blue upholstery with matching stools, under warranty. Other pod. equip., large modern curved reception desk. Midtown Manhattan, contact NYCfoot@aol.com for further information.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE - COOL TOUCH LASER

Cool Breeze Cool Touch CT3 plus laser used for ugly, unsightly, toe nail infections. Less than six months old. Great price won't last long. Considering a laser? We also have the Q- Clear Q- switch laser too. This laser is perfect for you. Also a used Lumix 2 laser, best price today Dr. Zuckerman is in the Fort Lauderdale area and will demo this lasers on your patients. E-mail footcare@comcast.net

PRACTICE FOR SALE - HOUSTON, TEXAS

28 year old busy, progressive practice for sale with an excellent reputation and well established referral base. Well-trained, dedicated, supportive staff. Excellent cash flow $475K income after overhead. EMR, digital x-ray, diagnostic ultrasound. Free standing building also available with large outdoor sign. Also available are two transferable surgical center partnerships(with distributions). Owner retiring and willing to stay part time during transition. Cover letter/CV to softechpodiatrist@gmail.com

PRACTICE FOR SALE - WASHINGTON STATE - SUBURBAN SEATTLE

16 year established part time practice. Includes Midmark 417 (4 position keypad), Excel X-ray, processor, Ritter M9, instruments, bandaids, etc. 1 Day/week $50K gross. Professional Business appraisal at $48K. Asking $35K. Shared office with 2 FP's. Easily expandable. Reply: practiceforsale18@yahoo.com

SPACE AVAILABLE- NYC & LI

Office to sublet and share - East 60th Manhattan, and Plainview long island. access to an MRI, Joint Commission certified operating rooms, digital x-ray, diagnostic ultrasound, and access to a multi-specialty ambulatory surgical center. Turn-key operation - no investment needed 516 476-1815 PODO2345@AOL.COM

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