The Voice of Podiatrists

Serving Over 10,900 Podiatrists Daily

May 23, 2008 #3,253 Editor-Barry Block, DPM, JD

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AAPPM Announces Student Practice Management Club Essay Contest Winners

The American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management (AAPPM), has announced that Kenneth Kemp, a fourth-year student at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, and Steven Hawley a second-year student at the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine are the two winners of their 2008 student practice management club essay contest. Over the past two weeks, these two lucky podiatric medical school students have spent an all expense paid week visiting the Wichita, KS offices of Dr. Benjamin Weaver, secretary of AAPPM.

Student Dr. Steven Hawley

The contest was funded by a grant from Dr. Les Appel, president of Powerstep ®, a leading prefab orthotic company and one of AAPPM’s corporate sponsors. "I had the opportunity as a student to visit a very successful practice and it was an extremely powerful learning and motivational experience for me. By funding this AAPPM Student Practice Management Club contest, I was happy to provide the winning students with a similar opportunity to spend a life-changing week with one of the Academy's top practitioners,” said Dr. Appel.

According to AAPPM Chair Dr. Hal Ornstein, the AAPPM has been working very successfully with student leaders over the past several months to establish practice management clubs in all of the podiatry schools - thanks in large measure to a $15,000 grant provided by Dr. Appel and Powerstep ®.

DMU Student to be Hooded by His Oncologist Father

Joe Kukla jokes that his father, an oncologist, tried to talk him out of going into medical school. On Saturday, his father, Lawrence, will be hooding him as Joe graduates from Des Moines University with a degree in podiatric medicine. The Des Moines Register asked Kukla how he became interested in podiatric medicine.

Student Dr. Joe Kukla (Photo Justin Hayworth)

“I didn't know a whole lot about it until my sophomore year in college. I took a careers class and it went through all these different careers. Podiatry came up and I was interested in it. In between my junior and senior year in college, I shadowed a couple podiatrists in my hometown. I would shadow all these different specialties and I never saw a happier patient base than I saw in podiatry. It seemed like the physicians could give almost instant satisfaction. It seemed like I saw results in foot and ankle surgery and that really drew me to believe I can immediately make a difference in people's lives."

Kukla is going to do a three-year surgical residency at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. He says that being a student has been a lot of fun, but after you've spent your fourth year on the road, you're ready to be out having responsibility, doing your own thing.

Source: Estela Villanueva-Whitman, The Des Moines Register [5/21/08]

Phony Painkiller Prescription Scheme Nets 5 Years Probation for PA Podiatrist

A Reading podiatrist who wrote phony prescriptions to obtain painkillers for himself was sentenced today in Berks County Court to five years of probation. Dr. Stuart F. Deitcher, 47, had pleaded guilty before Judge Paul M. Yatron to illegally prescribing prescription drugs to himself. Deitcher apologized to his family, his patients and the community.

Dr. Stuart F. Deitcher

Deitcher’s license to practice has been suspended, and his attorney, Jay M. Nigrini, said the license status will come up before a state review board in November. Deitcher has received treatment for his addiction, Nigrini said.

On at least 100 occasions, Deitcher prescribed hydrocodone for himself and had the prescriptions filled at a city pharmacy. Sometimes he picked up the medicine, and other times a staff member did. The investigation revealed Deitcher had received nearly 40,000 doses of hydrocodone from medical supply companies over four years.

Source: Mary E. Young, Reading Eagle [5/20/08]

HHS Secretary Calls For E-Prescribing Mandate

Medicare will eventually begin linking higher payment to providers with electronic prescribing systems as a way to improve value for beneficiaries, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said during a symposium. “I believe that very soon we’re going to have to tell participating Medicare providers that if they intend to use a system other than e-prescribing, we won’t be able to compensate them at the highest level,” Leavitt said at the event sponsored by the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association and RxHub.

Leavitt also seemed optimistic that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) would include an e-prescribing mandate in an upcoming Medicare reform bill. “There’s been substantial support for e-prescribing in both parties. I would hope a Medicare bill would include the authority I just described,” he said.

Source: Jennifer Lubell, Modern HealthCare [5/21/08]

Query: Chronic Ankle Sprain

A 31 year-old active male suffered an ankle sprain playing basketball about one year ago. Initial x-rays were negative for fracture and traditional conservative treatment did help the injury. The ankle continued to be painful proximal to the joint. New x-rays showed ossification within the syndesmosis proximal to the tib-fib ligament. Physical therapy, ankle and AFO bracing, orthotics and RICE/NSAIDs failed to improve symptoms.

Chronic Ankle Sprain

Physical exam shows pain with the tib-fib squeeze test, a full pain-free ankle joint and subtalar joint ROM and pain proximal to the ankle joint with weight-bearing and ambulation. CT scan revealed a partial synostosis between the tibia and fibula without diastasis or dislocation. I would appreciate the opinions of my colleagues as to what you would offer for this active patient.

David T. Taylor, DPM, Flint, MI

RE: Hookworm Infection (Cynthia S. Ferrelli, DPM)
From: Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM

The only other thing is it is (was) recommended to treat all family members. If it was my own foot, I would probably want to cut the cutaneous larva migrans out!

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

RE: Dermatological Treatment (Robert Gaynor, DPM)
From: Bret Ribotsky, DPM

Having had the opportunity to lecture at many dermatology conferences in the past two years, I have learned that If you have a "uncommon" derm condition, get to an academic institution as fast as you can. For Dr. Gaynor's patient, the University of Miami is 45 minutes away. As the biopsy might require immunofluorescence and other advanced techniques not often found in a community dermatologist office.

Bret M. Ribotsky, DPM, Boca Raton, FL, ribotsky@doctorbret.cm

RE: Conflicts of Interest
From: Multiple Respondents

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas no longer allows any commercially sponsored CME speakers.

Dwight L. Bates, DPM, Dallas, TX, dlbates04@yahoo.com

I am not writing to completely disagree with Dr. Goldstein, but to give a different perspective. Sure, larger markets and seminars may be expected to have the nationally known experts rounded up to speak on their topic and typically they are paid their reasonable/customary fee. That's how the business is. I'm telling you it can be different and work well in a smaller market or event and still result in a quality educational seminar, without the need to fly in most of these speakers and go to great expenses, whether it's the seminar budget or some company's dime.

Dr. Goldstein says he "would be hard-pressed to find enough speakers to fill up an entire day's worth of lectures without them receiving some form oo remuneration by a manufacturer or a drug company." The Midwest Podiatry Academy (of the OPMA), put on the Quickie Seminar last October, which is a one-day, 7.5 credit CME seminar, whose faculty of 20 speakers included 7 podiatry residents from three area programs, 4 MDs and 1 PT. Our final budget for the entire seminar was under $7,000 and only three faculty members required honorariums (2 MDs, 1 DPM). This year's Quickie Seminar is no different so far, with only 1 MD and 1 DPM requiring sponsorship/honorarium of some kind.

As for disclosure of sponsorship at the Quickie Seminar, all faculty are required to sign disclosure statements. Further, their sponsorships are identified in the seminar program and as the host for the program, I personally disclose their sponsorship during their introduction right before they speak to the audience. I think this is the standard.

Marc S. Greenberg, DPM, Dayton, OH, tripperdpm@yahoo.com

It seems that some people are now apologizing for the disarray we face regarding seminars, speakers, honorariums, journals, the research world and our CME process. If our speakers are paid for their comments, their honesty is jeopardized. If a study is funded by a company with a self-interest, the entire study is worthy of scrutiny, if not worthless. Many reports indicate that drug companies simply bury the negative studies and only report the positive ones. Academic medical centers are beginning to deny drug company representatives and device manufacturers access to their physicians and their research departments.

A proposal has surfaced from the AMA to stop accepting corporate contributions to their scientific meetings. Most meetings in podiatry, as in many professions, are almost totally funded by corporate donations. If that money were to disappear, our seminar costs would skyrocket. As participants in this process, we become not only victims, but the guilty participants.

Lloyd S. Smith, DPM, Newton, MA, lloydpod@yahoo.com

10 Year Sentence for Investment Advisor Who Defrauded Podiatrists
From: Joel Lang, DPM

As a financial planner, it saddens me that a planner misappropriated money that he/she was entrusted with for the benefit of his client(s). There is actually no need for any financial planner to ever take possession or control of a person's assets. When a planner advises you to allow him/her to access your finds, a red flag should go up.

Another red flag should go up when your planner is paid by collecting commissions or trading fees for the transactions he/she recommends. This is a conflict of interest when the planner's living (income) depends on the number and size of completed transactions. Many salespeople who sell financial products such as insurance, annuities and various investments pass themselves off as financial planners.

The best method of protecting yourself is to retain a "fee-only" planner on retainer, who collects no commissions or outside fees that are based on the recommendations made. His/her recommendations are unbiased and with the client's best interest being his/her primary and only concern.

That having been said, there are fee-only planners with varying skill levels, experience and fees. It would still be a good idea to do some shopping. With a "fee-only" planner you have the highest level of certainty that he/she will not misappropriate funds against your best interest.

Joel Lang, DPM (retired), Cheverly, MD, langfinancial@verizon.net

ASSOCIATE POSITION: BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

Seeking motivated and outgoing individual for part-time position in very comfortable office with a great working atmosphere. Office is turn-key with ASC in a fantastic location. Must be ABPS eligible. competitive salary + incentive and part-time benefits are available. CV to 410-602-9781.

ASSOCIATE POSITION – LEHIGH VALLEY, PA

Large medical/surgical practice centered in Lehigh Valley, PA looking for exceptionally trained podiatrist. Excellent opportunity for income as well as potential partnership. E-mail resume to jkaufman@lvfoot.com

INTERNET FOOT THEMED CANDY BUSINESS FOR SALE

Well-known foot-themed chocolate and candy company with over 6,000 customers. Unique products with trademarked names for seasonal (Mistle Toes, Valentoes, etc.) as well as everyday (A Foot of Feet, Twinkle Toes, etc.). Excellent opportunity to generate income from home with an established business. Serious inquiries to Mwolpa@ToeFood.com

ASSOCIATE WANTED - KNOXVILLE, TN AREA

Busy multi-doctor, multi office practice heavily weighted in surgery. PSR-24 + experience preferred. Part-time also available. Area consistently ranked in top five areas of country to live, work or retire. Ranked third in country 2008 Boaters magazine for boating destination. First year guarantee $150,000 plus bonuses and benefits. Send cover letter an c.v. to davidphawk@adelphia.net

ASSOCIATE POSITION – NW INDIANA (1 HR FROM CHICAGO)

Great opportunity for financial and personal success. Start at $150K plus incentive compensation, good benefits, and ownership potential. Must be highly motivated, have a great bedside manner and excellent surgical skills (forefoot and rearfoot). E-mail resume to friendlyfootcare@comcast.net or fax resume to (219)662-7290. Learn about us here

ASSOCIATE POSITION - ILLINOIS

Quality Podiatry Group provides quality services to residents at long term care facilities. We are currently offering full-time or part-time positions for motivated ethical podiatrists. Immediate openings available. If interested fax curriculum vitae to 312 225-9366 or e-mail feetwork@aol.com

PRACTICE FOR SALE - FLORIDA

Well-known practice in Coral Gables,FL for over 20 years. Excellent location on Coral Way with heavy traffic, great visibility and plenty of parking. Busy, fully equipped, full-time office with established patients. Grossing over 300K with tremendous growth potential. Office is currently open and ready to take over immediately. For additional information contact QVAN@aol.com or 305-975-5516.

SEEKING RESIDENT FOR PSR-24 - BALTIMORE, MD (MERCY MC)

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 2008. Includes competitive salary/benefits. Send inquiries to rsher18@yahoo.com

ASSOCIATE POSITIONS – MARYLAND

Are you motivated, personable and enjoy working with the elderly? We are offering full or part-time positions in Maryland. Our group provides care to the elderly in Nursing Homes, Assisted Living, Senior Homes, Adult Daycare and other similar facilities. Please e-mail your cv to drhprosen@comcast.net or fax to 410-486-2049 or call Dr. Herbert Rosen 410-580-0255

ASSOCIATE POSITION - SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

Seeking three-year trained resident for associateship, hopefully leading to partnership. Competent in all phases of podiatry particularly reconstructive rearfoot surgery. Outstanding opportunity for the right individual. Reply to Richard Pollak at 210-692-0279, or fax resume to 210-692-0028 or e-mail drpllk@hotmail.com

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