The Voice of Podiatrists

Serving Over 10,800 Podiatrists Daily

May 01, 2008 #3,234 Editor-Barry Block, DPM, JD

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APMA Appoints Goldsmith as Policy and Practice Consultant

In an effort to enhance its unparalleled health policy member benefits, APMA has retained Harry Goldsmith, DPM of Cerritos, CA as its new Health Policy and Practice consultant. Goldsmith, perhaps podiatric medicine's preeminent expert in coding, private insurance, and health policy, will have an immediate impact on APMA's significant advocacy efforts.

Dr. Harry Goldsmith

Among his first responsibilities will be the redesign and implementation of a state-of-the-art podiatric medicine and surgery coding manual. APMA's Coding Manual, already the leading podiatric medical coding resource, will receive a complete facelift in time for the release of the new 2009 CPT Codes. Sales of the Manual will continue to benefit the APMA Educational Foundation Student Scholarship Program.

Source: APMA Daily ENews [4/29/08]

Armstrong and Dananberg Represent Podiatry on the Emerald Isle

In a whirlwind 48-hour tour of the Emerald Isle, David G. Armstrong, DPM, PhD delivered six lectures and one keynote address, conducted two grand rounds and participated in the launch of a regional amputation prevention program in Ireland and Northern Ireland. “Podiatric medicine and patient education are advancing well on this island” noted Dr. Armstrong, Professor of Surgery and Director of the William M. Scholl College's Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Surgery (CLEAR) at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.

Drs. David Armstrong and Howard Dananberg

In addition to Grand Rounds appearances at Dublin's famed Mater Misericordiae Hospital and Belfast's University of Ulster, Dr. Armstrong participated in Galway with Principal Investigator, Dr. Sean Dinneen of the National University of Ireland, in the launch of the Western Ireland Diabetic Foot Study, a federally-sponsored project designed to screen high-risk patients and provide needed networks of interdisciplinary diabetic foot care.

Fellow renowned American Podiatrist Howard Dananberg, DPM also participated in the annual symposium of the Northern Ireland Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, which also doubled as the 25th anniversary of Northern Ireland Podiatry Graduates.

8 Year Sentence for Employee Who Embezzled from IL Podiatrist

For the three years she worked for his Glen Ellyn podiatrist practice, Daniel O'Carroll said he went out of his way to help the single mother get on her feet. He loaned her money, excused frequent absences and entrusted the employee with the daily operations of one of his two busy offices.In return, 37-year-old Karen S. Albergo of Elgin pilfered $132,876.08 from O'Carroll during a 21-month span that ended last summer when the doctor uncovered the scheme.

Albergo was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison for the scheme. She faced either probation or up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to felony theft during an earlier hearing. In meting out the punishment, DuPage Circuit Judge Robert Anderson called the case "a tragedy" for both sides but said a prison term is warranted to deter others from similar brazen acts. Albergo also had a criminal record that included arrests for four retail thefts, deceptive practices and forgery.

Prosecutor Helen Kapas-Erdman characterized Albergo as a con artist who took advantage of her good-natured boss while writing 251 checks to herself for vacations, online dating, tanning, beauty services, bars and restaurants. Albergo also paid her rent, utilities and car with the stolen money. O’Carroll said Albergo not only took his money but also stole his faith in humanity, "She stole my trust and I will be forever defensive."

Source: Christy Gutowski, Daily Herald [4/29/08]

Query: Long-acting vs. Short-acting Steroids Intra-operatively

Does anyone know of any literature that discusses standard of care regarding the use of long-acting vs. short-acting steroids intra-operatively in elective surgery? Does the dosing of the steroid enter into this equation, if, for example, a patient given Kenalog 10mgs intra-op at surgical site develops an infection within a few weeks subsequent to a bunion surgery.

Peter J. Bregman, DPM, Tewksbury, MA

Query: Health Club Memberships for Employees

Has anyone provided health club memberships for their employees. and if so, with what results?

Bob Levoy, Roslyn, NY

RE: Replacements Parts for Hill Podiatry Chair (Mike Bluhm, DPM)
From: Fay Mushlin

Hill podiatry chairs are sold in Frazer, PA address: 3 Bacton Hill Road (P.O. Box 2028) Frazer, PA 19355 phone # 1-877-445-5020. I called them and they are definitely in business.

Fay Mushlin, West Chester, PA, teegee@pol.net

RE: Office Assistant Paging System (Will Parker, DPM)
FROM: Multiple Respondents

Our office has two methods by which we can signal the assistant. We have a doorbell button in each treatment room that is connected to a chime in the lab, where the assistant might be working. The other, more efficient system consists of the colored flags mounted outside the door of each room. You can assign a duty to each color. For instance, if you extend the black flag, then it tells the assistant to take that patient to get x-rays. If you extend the red flag, then it tells the assistant to set up for a nail procedure. Using this method lets you minimize idle time. You can tell the patient, "My assistant will set up for the procedure and I'll be back."

You flip the flag as you exit the room and go start on the next patient (or do a progress note, write a prescription, or do whatever else you need to do) knowing that your assistant will see the flag and know what to do without the two of you wasting time trying to find each other to talk about it. When the assistant has completed the task, he or she can reset the flag and that signals you to return to the room once again without having to locate each other to verbalize it. Meanwhile, she or he can move on to the next task without needing to find you for verbal instruction. You can save several minutes and/or significantly increase the number of patients you can see per day.

Nat Chotechuang, DPM, Bend, OR, natchot@hotmail.com

RE: ACFAS Members Vote to Reject APMA Membership Requirement
From: David E. Gurvis, DPM

I agree with Dr. Agostinelli. It appears the Board of ACFAS made a policy or “rules and regulations change” that should have been a bylaws change – which then would have required a two-thirds vote. They then required a bylaw-type vote (two-thirds) to reverse something that wasn’t a bylaw issue to begin with. It seems very roundabout and convoluted on the surface of it. As a longtime ACFAS member, I would like to have some clarification on what sounds to be underhanded, on the surface of it. I would also like to know, from the APMA, why ACFAS never was given a vote at the House of Delegates.

Each party has made accusations towards the other. No one has yet explained to the members, the reasoning behind their decision, except the financial one. We are small in numbers and need all the joint members we can get to fund each organization. One or the other organization, at some time, will have done something to anger a member, but overall, until now, both have worked to our benefit. That has now ended it seems to me.

Either way, they will now be out from under the “auspices” of the APMA and I for one will wait and see what happens prior to making any decision. I just hope this does not result in a flurry of lawsuits and counter lawsuits further wasting our time and money.

My dues are due to the ACFAS. It’s time to sit back, wait, and see some clarification before writing that check.

David E. Gurvis, DPM, Avon, IN , deg1@comcast.net

RE: EMR Without Billing Software
From: Alan L. Bass, DPM

If you are looking for a user-friendly EMR software, I can highly recommend PodMed by Leum software. I have used the EMR program for the last 2 years for EMR only. (They also have software for billing which I am currently moving towards) The EMR system is easy to use. You can generate notes via templates or build your own notes with the assembler program. You can also dictate with the program and they also offer a transcription service. You can generate a super bill for billing purposes. Their support is very good as well.

Alan L. Bass, DPM, RPh, Manalapan, NJ, abassdpm@optonline.net

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