The Voice of Podiatrists

Serving Over 9,800 Podiatrists Daily

September 17, 2007 #3,042 Editor-Barry Block, DPM, JD

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Congratulations to Barbara Hirsch, DPM of Rockville, MD, our weekly survey contest winner, who has won free registrartion to the 2008 HAWAII CODING AND PRACTICE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP. Register now at www.podiatrym.com/hawaii and save up to $200. .

Windjammer Barefoot Cruise

This week's prize is a one-week Windjammer Barefoot Carribbean Cruise (Value $2,000) . To enter the contest, complete the survey at www.podiatrym.com and send us question #45, along with your name and address. Be sure to vote in the survey for the 2008 inductees in the PM Podiatry Hall of Fame.

Dr. James Stelnicki Establishes $100,000 Scholarship Fund at BUSPM

Dr. James Stelnicki of Clearwater, FL, a member of the Podiatric Medical Advisory Council, has established the Stelnicki Scholarship for Excellence in Lower Extremity Vascular Medicine at Barry University's School of Podiatric Medicine. The scholarship, which is based on Stelnicki’s $100,000 donation to the School of Podiatric Medicine, will award one $10,000 scholarship each year to a deserving senior podiatric medical student.

Dr. James Stelnicki

To qualify for the scholarship, students must submit a published research paper or poster research presentation in the area of lower extremity vascular medicine and demonstrate clinical excellence in the treatment and diagnosis of lower extremity vascular disease during their third-year clinical rotations. BU clinical faculty will select the recipient of the Stelnicki Scholarship based on the most qualified candidate. The scholarship will be applied to the tuition account of the chosen student during their senior year of podiatric medical school.

Stelnicki received a doctorate of podiatric medicine from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine and completed residency training at the Cleveland Foot Clinic and Pinellas General Hospital. He is board certified in podiatric surgery and primary podiatric care by the American Podiatric Medical Specialties Board. As a physician, he has achieved wide recognition within his specialty of podiatric medicine, having led many legislative delegations to Capitol Hill and serving as president of the Florida Podiatric Medical Association.

NJ Podiatry Group Joins Kimball Medical Center

Foot disorders are among the most widespread and neglected health problems affecting people in this country, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association. At Kimball Medical Center, a new team of foot and ankle specialists have joined the hospital staff, offering the community expert care for a host of foot-related disorders.

Drs. Manooj Prasad, Gerald Mauriello Jr., and Ankur Dharia

Ankur Dharia, D.P.M., Gerald Mauriello Jr., D.P.M., M.A. and Manooj Prasad, D.P.M., of The Garden State Foot and Ankle Group, all completed the podiatric surgical residency program at Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Center in New York City and earned their doctoral degrees at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine in New York City. Additionally, Dr. Mauriello holds a master's degree in health education from the Columbia University Teachers College.

Dr. Mauriello specializes in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, pediatric foot and ankle medicine and surgery, arthroscopic foot and ankle surgery and foot and ankle trauma. He also has a special interest in diabetic foot care and limb salvage. Areas of interest for Dr. Dharia include foot and ankle trauma, cosmetic surgery to improve the appearance of the foot, forefoot surgery to correct bunions, hammertoes and neuromas and public health education. Dr. Prasad specializes in wound care and limb salvage, sports medicine and foot and ankle trauma.

Jury Awards $75,000 in Suit Against IL Podiatrist

A jury has awarded $75,000 in damages to a woman who alleged in a lawsuit that an Evansville podiatrist improperly performed an “unnecessary” surgery on her foot. Mary D. Miller and her husband Ernest filed the lawsuit against Dr. Thomas K. Hupfer of the Evansville Foot and Ankle Center, alleging he performed an “unnecessary surgery” on her right heel in April 1998.

During the trial, attorneys for Miller, an elementary school cook, said the surgery resulted in scar tissue that continues to cause her pain and discomfort. Attorney Robert John said a medical review panel ruled unanimously in favor of Miller. Plaintiffs are required by law to submit proposed medical malpractice claims to a medical review panel before the claims can be pursued in court. But defense attorney Clay Edwards said evidence would show non-surgical treatment did not work.

This trial marked the second in recent months where Hupfer was defendant in a civil case: A jury ruled in his favor in July in a case where a former city employee alleged he’d improperly and unnecessarily operated on her.

Source: Kate Braser, Courier Press [9/14/07]

Query: Angelus Medical

Does anyone have any experience with ordering used chairs/autoclaves from this company?

Susan Wexler, DPM, Malden, MA

RE: KobyGard (Paul Galluzzo, DPM)
From: Dra. Marta Losa Iglesias Phd, Joseph Borreggine, DPM

I just brought it at the APMA National Scientific Meeting in Philadelphia, and I´m training with cadaver specimens, but I can say that it´s easy to use, and worth it.

Dra. Marta Losa Iglesias Phd, HLd. Spain, marta_losa_iglesias@hotmail.com

I have used the Kobygard System successfully as the primary surgical treatment for neuromas and plantar fasciitis for the last two years and have had 90% success with this procedure for both diagnoses.

Pre-operatively, the patients who require either the Kobygard for neuromas and/or plantar fasciitis have already gone through a “gauntlet”�of other non-surgical therapies with no or very little response. This procedure certainly does provide immediate relief of these types of problems and should be used as such. It gets to the root cause of the problems and obliterates it, and hence the relief of pain. With insurance companies begging for outcome studies on whether things actually work or not, why wouldn't you do this procedure? It works plain and simple.

The post-op recovery from these Kobygard procedures is more days-to-weeks than weeks-to -months. The incisions are less invasive and the dissection is certainly less traumatic than the previously ordained podiatric procedures of choice. Patients are back in their shoes in 3-5 days, and back to normal activities sooner than later.

Joseph Borreggine, DPM, Charleston, IL, footfixr@consolidated.net

RE: Low Insurance Payments (Mark Levine, DPM)
From: Kathleen Neuhoff, DPM

I agree with Dr. Levine. Ever since I opened my practice 14 years ago, I have monitored my costs for providing care for some of my key CPT codes. I then use the fee schedules which are provided by the insurance companies to see if the reimbursement is cost effective. If it is not, we do not take the plan. We also review all of our plans each year and drop any that fall "below the line." For this reason, 8 years ago we stopped taking Medicare Assignment.

I stopped taking one of the local HMOs (I only accept one or two HMOs) and after two years, they returned to me and asked me to take their patients again at a 15% higher rate than they had previously given. I do some pro bono work and accept Medicaid children, but these are my social contributions and are done whe I wish to donate care, not when an insurance mandates!

We have to work a little harder to recruit new patients, but our practice is steadily growing. More importantly, my net continues to grow as well as my gross. I believe we are approaching a time of physician shortage in all areas, especially podiatry so we can afford to be selective.

Kathleen Neuhoff, DPM, South Bend, IN, vetpod@aol.com

Editor's Note: This topic is now closed.

PODIATRISTS NEEDED - CHICAGO --NORTHWEST INDIANA

Home Physicians, a medical group specializing in house calls is looking to hire podiatrists. We are located in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Full and part time positions are available. Competitive Compensation including malpractice. Contact Scott Schneider. Phone-773-292-4800. Fax 773-342-4201 -E-Mail sschneider@homephysicians.com -- www.homephysicians.com

UNIVERSAL PROCEDURE CHAIR FOR SALE

Blue with doctor's stool. Like new. Great for any specialty. Can be used as a podiatry chair or in office surgery. Asking price: $1,000. Photos Available. Please contact doccapo@yahoo.com

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 (NON-SURGICAL) HOUSTON, TX

Full time non-surgical podiatrist needed for the Harris County Hospital Clinics. A Baylor College of Medicine staffing will be obtained. Competitive salary and benefits. Fax CV to G. Lepow 713 790-9320 or email CV to lepowft@cs.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION – MISSOURI

Due to growth, we will have a position available about February or March for an experienced podiatrist. Should have significant cases toward board certification or be board certified. Partnership available. Missouridpm@yahoo.com

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