The Voice of Podiatrists

Serving Over 11,000 Podiatrists Daily

September 16, 2009 #3,650 Publisher-Barry Block, DPM, JD

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GA Podiatrist Cautions Diabetics to Guard Their Foot Health

Podiatric Surgeon, Dr. Tobi Todd, was the keynote speaker at the 2009 Victory Over Diabetes Day delivering vital information on good foot health. The annual event of the American Diabetes Association promotes education and free health screenings for diabetic patients and their care givers.

Dr. Tobi Todd

"This is critical health information for diabetic patients. See a podiatrist annually for evaluation and at the first sign of injury or infection," cautioned Dr. Tobi Todd. Todd's passionate words were delivered during his keynote address to over 1,300 attendees at the 2009 Victory Over Diabetes Day (VOD) in Atlanta. VOD is The American Diabetes Association's (ADA) annual event at the Georgia International Conference Center. 
 

AR Podiatrist to Sponsor Rally For the Cure Event

The Mountain Home Tennis Center is hosting a tennis "Rally for the Cure" on Oct. 4 for women who are committed to making a difference in the fight against breast cancer.

Dr. Eric Arp

Participants are encouraged to wear pink, the signature color of Rally for the Cure. Dr. Eric Arp, local podiatrist, is a sponsor of the Rally. A luncheon will also be provided for players and donors.

Source: Baxter Bulletin [9/15/09]

Podiatrists Accused of Healthcare Fraud

A podiatrist from San Juan was arrested by federal agents Monday morning for allegedly defrauding the federal government out of thousands of dollars. Franklin Beltre, DPM, of Houston, TX was arrested this morning at his office at Valley Medical Foot Care in San Juan.  He’s being held without bond pending a hearing on Tuesday. Also charged along with Beltre is Manuela Alana, 40, an unlicensed podiatrist, of Pharr. A warrant remains outstanding for her arrest. 

Beltre and Alana are accused in each of the eight counts of the indictment of defrauding Medicaid and Medicare of thousands of dollars by means of false and fraudulent claims in connection with the use of unlicensed podiatrists and unqualified medical personnel between August 2004 through September 2009.

Beltre allegedly billed for medical services purportedly performed by him on dates when he was actually traveling outside the State of Texas and outside of the United States. Beltre and Alana each face a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, if convicted of healthcare fraud.

Source: WKPT-4 [9/14/09]

CMS Believes Encryption Should Be Mandatory 

The first batch of government reviews of covered entities (CEs) for compliance with the security rule revealed a host of deficiencies, ranging from failure to conduct even an initial risk assessment to inconsistent employee training, according to a summary of findings and recommended corrective actions recently released by CMS.

But what is perhaps most interesting is CMS’s apparent belief, expressed in the report, that encryption is mandatory, and its statement that risk assessments should be repeated every three years, at a minimum.

CMS oversees compliance with the security rule, while the HHS Office for Civil Rights enforces the privacy rule. In 2008, the Office of E-Health Standards & Services within CMS began conducting security audits or reviews. CMS’s report, “HIPAA Compliance Review Analysis and Summary of Results,” marked the first time the agency has described findings from the 10 reviews it conducted last year.

Source: Report on Patient Privacy

A Tip on Overcoming Procrastination

Break out of a slump by arriving at work an hour early one day. Use that time to tackle an activity you have been dreading. Even if you make only a dent in it, you will feel a sense of accomplishment that will elevate your mood all day.

Source: Communication Briefings [October 2009]

Query: Coding for Neurectomy

I am looking for CPT suggested coding for:

1) Baxter's neurectomy, left heel 2) Medial calcaneal neurectomy, left ankle and foot 3) A tarsal tunnel decompression, left ankle (also reported in the op report).

Judy Manley, Office Manager, Itasca, IL

Response: "-ectomy", as I understand it, means excision. Was a piece of nerve actually excised? It sounds like a tarsal tunnel release was performed, CPT 28035. Baxter's nerve and the medial calcaneal branch are both part of the posterior tibial nerve, and would be included in CPT 28035.

Walter Pedowitz, MD, Linden, NJ

Codingline subscription information can be found at:
http://www.codingline.com/subscribe.htm

RE: Patient Reminder System (Cheryl Martinetti, PMAC)
From: Eric C. Palmquist, DPM

Victory Enterprises is a company which I am familiar with. It has implemented just such a program for sending text reminders for appointments.  If you are looking for more information about text reminders, please contact, Mr. Brian Dumas via email at bdumas@victoryenterprises.com.

Eric C. Palmquist, DPM, Moline, IL, ecpalmquist@gmail.com
 

RE: PSR-24 Discrimination (Bryan Markinson, DPM, Narmo L. Ortiz, Jr., DPM)
From: Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM

Thank you for your concise and tell-it-like-it-is posts. You have both found the enormous hole in Vision 2015: The vision ignores the continued discrimination that the "groups in "power" continue to exercise. That the APMA allows this to continue is a violation of its own ethics guidelines.
 
I suggest to all those applying for privileges, if you come up against any form of discrimination from other podiatrists, file a written grievance with your state society as well as the APMA. I would next contact your state attorney general's office. Plain and simple, the continued discrimination is a clear attempt at restraint of trade. Just don't go quietly into the night. You are well trained and deserve to practice on a level playing field.

Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM, Schaumburg, IL, doc@footsportsdoc.com

RE: Laser Scanners for Orthotics
From: Lloyd Nesbitt, DPM

Having used a Sharp Shape scanner for the past 9 months on about 600 patients, I thought that some information may be of use to those who are still unsure of this technology/methodology, as some of the letters seem misleading.

First off, ….
 
Lloyd Nesbitt, DPM, Toronto, Canada, foothealth@lloydnesbitt.com

Editor's note: Dr. Nesbitt's extended-lemgth note can be read at: http://www.podiatrym.com/letters2.cfm?id=28870&start=1

RE: Obama’s Healthcare Plan
From: Stanley Kalish, DPM

Dear Mr. Obama,

I have been a physician in practice for 32 years. A simple way to improve the greatest healthcare system in the world without creating massive debt is the following:

1] For legitimate US citizens caught without insurance, issue a credit card to them based on an IRS confirmed family income of $25,000-$50,000. These Citizens who fall between Medicaid and Medicare should be treated at no charge by physicians and hospitals. They should represent no more than 15-20% of our patient volume.

2] Give us a tax deduction based on the amount of goods and services rendered per year. We would be pleased and honored to do this. This would eliminate thousands of government employees dealing with 20 dollar co-pays and eliminate the need for additional administrative and office-based and hospital personnel.

In addition, no tax levy would be needed for this as these credit cards could be formulated by the IRS section of our government. Couple this with tort reform, and some culpability on lawyers and highly paid experts who should be sued for false representation in these bogus cases. Just an idea from an old Doc.   

Stanley Kalish, DPM, Stone Mountain, GA, srkalish@bellsouth.net
 

ASSOCIATE POSITION-  SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Looking for board certified/board eligible ABPS associate to join a multi doctor practice with 2 offices. May lead to eventual buy-in and purchase. Must have minimum 2-year residency and comfortable with rearfoot procedures and diabetic care, ER call. Must be dependable, honest, ethical individual. Send cover letter and CV to familyfootcenter@earthlink.net

ASSOCIATE POSITION – CENTRAL FLORIDA

Growing practice east coast of central Florida looking for full or part-time associate willing to buy into practice. PSR 24/36 Please contact: pfk4@yahoo.com.

ASSOCIATE POSITION -  WASHINGTON, DC 

Interested in working in Washington D.C.? Our group is looking to add a highly motivated, hard working, well trained podiatrist to our practice. Must have surgical training. We have a very busy multi-office practice. We practice state of the art podiatry with EMR and digital radiography. Associate to partner on a fast track for the right person. E-mail CV and cover letter to Washingtonpod@aol.com

OFFICE SPACE/ MRI RENTAL – NYC, LI

Turn-key space available, daily, monthly; East 60th off Park Ave, East 22nd St. off 3rd Ave, Hicksville and/or Plainview Long Island. JACHO-certified operating rooms available, as well as all surgical equipment and anesthesia. Extremity MRI Rental. Stark compliant. All exams read by board certified radiologist. Call for details. 516 476-1815

ASSOCIATE POSITION - CHICAGO AREA

Join one of the most successful, long-established podiatry practices in the Chicago area, with excellent salary and benefits. We have an immediate opening for a full-time podiatrist in a multi practice location in Chicago. Must have two years of surgical residency. Please e-mail resume to fmassuda@footexperts.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION – NYC 
 
Expanding Joint Commission Accredited Surgical and state of art medical podiatry practice seeks part-time ABPS Qualified/Certified podiatric surgeon on two weekdays in Flushing, Queens and on Saturday's in Midtown, Manhattan. Email CV and cover letter  to   EcksteinDPM@AOL.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION (SURGICAL) – CONNECTICUT

Connecticut Surgical Group is seeking a Board-Certified podiatrist to add to our Surgical Podiatry division based in Central Connecticut. This podiatrist will provide all aspects of Podiatric care with a focus on wound and surgical care to a well-established patient base. We require PSR-36 training and board certification or eligibility, excellent surgical and wound care skills, a strong focus on providing compassionate care to our patients, and the ability to work as part of a team in a group practice setting. To apply please visit our website . EOE

ASSOCIATE POSITION - NY (MID-TOWN MANHATTAN & WESTCHESTER COUNTY)

Multi-office, well-established medical/surgical practice with on premises OR, digital x-rays, vascular testing, sonogram, F-scan, bone density testing, fluoroscopy & NCV. Additionally, EMR with voice recognition charting coming soon, and many other perks are available. We are looking for personable, well-trained & well-motivated individual. Patient base available for immediate in-office productivity. If you are new or ready to change locations, contact us ASAP to discuss opportunities. Send resume and cover letter to terri.bobson@verizon.net

ASSOCIATE POSITION - FREDERICK, MD

Well-established and growing 2 office state-of-the-art practice located in medical/professional buildings. EMR, Digital X-ray, Ultrasound, DME provider, etc. Competitive Base Salary plus bonus, malpractice, health insurance, etc. PSR 24 minimum/Board Qualified or Certified with ability and desire to take ER call. If interested, forward CV to DOCSBNB@aol.com

LOCUM TENENS POSITION – PHOENIX, AZ

Locum Tenens position available in West Valley Phoenix office beginning September 15th. Salary negotiable. One to two days a week in a friendly and casual office. Please direct all inquiries to drlaurel@cox.net

PRACTICE FOR SALE/ASSOCIATE POSITION-COLORADO
 
Established practice in Denver area. Turn-key for immediate possession or associate position. Office located on hospital campus with referral sources in building. Practice evaluation at 275K. Contact Jenifer Davies at 303-947-1869.

PRACTICE FOR SALE - FLORIDA—CENTRAL/SOUTH

Turn-key operation grossing $570,000 annually based on one full-time doctor. Great opportunity for growing the top-line. Surgery is only 14% of the professional man-hours; it can significantly increase income. Medicare makes up 64% of revenues. Seller will assist with transition. Call 863-688-1725, ask for Chas.

ASSOCIATE POSITION - CHICAGO AREA

Well-established, state of the art medical-surgical podiatry practice seeking well-trained motivated individual to work full-time with future partnership possible. Will start with full schedule. PSR-24 a minimum. Email resume to Howard4624@gmail.com

NEEDED CHICAGO -- NW IND & BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON, DC PODIATRISTS

Home Physicians, a medical group specializing in house calls is looking to hire podiatrists in Chicago, Northwest Indiana, and Baltimore, MD. Full and part-time positions are available. Competitive Compensation including malpractice. Contact Scott Schneider. Phone-773-342-4201 FAX 773-486-3548-E-Mail sschneider@homephysicians.com Visit our website

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