The Voice of Podiatrists

Serving Over 13,000 Podiatrists Daily

September 21, 2011 #4,265 Publisher-Barry Block, DPM, JD

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Podiatrists Should be Part of Everyone's Health Team: AZ Podiatrist

A recent study by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) reports that an astounding 72% of Americans cite foot pain as the reason they don't exercise. The same study revealed that while Americans view their feet as the least important body part for their overall health, feet were the number one body part to experience pain. So how do you know when it's time to seek the help of a foot professional?

Dr. Kathleen Stone

APMA immediate past president Kathleen Stone, DPM, says everyone should consider consulting with a podiatrist. "Podiatrists are physicians, surgeons, and specialists who treat diseases, injuries, and deformities of the foot and ankle," Stone said. "We should be a part of everyone's healthcare team, but it is especially important for those experiencing regular foot pain to seek care from a podiatrist," she explained.

Source: S. Alexander Cooke, Associated Content [09/19/2011]

NYCPM Welcomes Class of 2015 With Annual White Coat Ceremony

On Tuesday, September 13, the New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM) welcomed the 110 students in the Class of 2015 at the College’s annual White Coat Ceremony, in which the future Doctors of Podiatric Medicine symbolically don their white coats and together recite the Hippocratic Oath. The members of the Class of 2015 come from 23 states, as well as from India. Forty-eight percent of the Class of 2015 is female, and fifty-two percent is male. The students’ average age is 24.

NYCPM Class of 2015 at White Coat Ceremony

After brief opening remarks welcoming the Class of 2015, President Louis L. Levine called four members of the NYCPM family, Nancy Clark, DPM, David Gitlin, DPM, Kathleen Reilly-Fallon, DPM, and William H. Graham, VP of Information Technology and Operations, up to the stage.  He praised them for having been instrumental in setting up and providing – with help from many other NYCPM volunteers as the weeks went by – podiatric care for the workers at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks. Mr. Levine then presented each with a copy of the recently-published Centennial History of NYCPM, and a certificate of appreciation from the College.

IL Podiatrist-Sponsored Shoe Drive Collects 2,400 Pairs

More than 2,400 pairs of shoes were collected last week at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center and at other OSF locations in Bloomington-Normal to benefit clients of Home Sweet Home Ministries, OSF announced Monday. People living in Home Sweet Home’s shelter will receive first choice of three pairs of shoes each.

Dr. Todd C. Snoeyink

A portion of the remaining shoes will be given to other local social service agencies. If any shoes remain, they will be placed in the Mission Mart thrift store for sale. The OSF Shoe Drive is sponsored by St. Joseph and Dr. Todd Snoeyink, an OSF Medical Group podiatrist. Snoeyink has sponsored the shoe drive for eight years.

Source: Pantagraph [9/19/11]

MedPac Mulls 'Doc Fix' With No Raises for 10 Years

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPac) is mulling a "doc fix" to the program's reimbursement crisis that would spread its enormous cost among beneficiaries and providers alike. The proposed fix, which would ultimately require Congressional approval, translates into a 10-year freeze of Medicare pay for primary care physicians. Specialists would experience a 5.9% pay cut for 3 straight years, followed by 7 years of no change.

These austerity measures are part of a proposal prepared by MedPac staff, with the blessing of chairman Glenn Hackbarth, and presented to commission members yesterday. Similar to Congress and organized medicine, MedPac wants to avert a 29.5% reduction in Medicare rates on January 1 that is mandated by the program's sustainable growth rate formula for setting physician reimbursement.

Source: Robert Lowes, Medscape News [9/16/11]

ONC Announces Metadata Initiative for Patient Consent-Management

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has announced the "soft launch" of an initiative to use metadata tagging to create patient consent-management controls over the movement of sensitive elements of patients' electronic records. The controls, the ONC noted in an e-mailed statement, are in keeping with recommendations of a December 2010 report by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

The ONC's Office of the Chief Privacy Officer and the Office of Standards and Interoperability are leading the initiative, which aims to "address standards for the ability to exchange parts of a medical record (often called data segmentation)," according to the statement. The initiative is part of the ONC's Standards & Interoperability Framework.

Source: Joseph Conn, Modern Healthcare [9/19/11]

Indian Professor to Lecture on Forensic Podiatry

A forensic anthropologist from Panjab University has been invited to deliver a lecture at the 10th International Symposium on Forensic Sciences to be held in Bratislava, Slovak Republic between September 18 and 23. Dr. Kewal Krishnan, Senior Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology, has been extended this honor for his well-acclaimed research work on forensic podiatry.

Dr. Kewal Krishnan

Forensic podiatry is comparatively a new branch of forensic science that deals with the study of foot-related evidence in criminal investigations. In his lecture on this research, Krishnan will discuss issues related to the usefulness of footprints in criminal investigation. He devised some of the new individualistic characteristics of footprints which can be used to track criminals by studying the prints at a crime site.

Source: Indian Express [9/20/11]

Query: Midmark Footrest Slider Repair

The footrest sliders on my Midmark 417 patient chair have broken. This leaves the footrest unable to extend and be stable. Has anyone had this problem? How much did it cost to repair? Can anyone recommend a good repair person who won't charge an arm and a leg?

Justin Sussner, DPM, Monroe, NY

Query: Place of Service Adult Day Care Center

What is the correct "place of service" (POS) for professional services given at an adult day care center?

Howard Dinowitz, DPM, Brooklyn, NY

Response: POS "99" - other place of service. There is no specific place of service designation for an adult day care center. The E/M coding would be outpatient (CPT 99201-99215).

Harry Goldsmith, DPM, Cerritos, CA

Codingline subscription information can be found here
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RE: Because We Feel Like It

Today, I got an Explanation of Benefits from an insurance company.  They paid part of a claim but rejected one line. The official printed reason for the rejection, as printed: "no reason." I often suspected as much!

Richard Rettig, DPM, Philadelphia, PA

SUB LEASING TIME on MRI (NYC)

.31 tesla extremity MRI in state-of-the-art midtown Manhattan office location. Lease time on magnet in compliance with the Stark laws. This magnet is the only one that will be accepted by Medicare and all other insurance as of 2012. Why not bill out for your own MRI's??? Email today dri@myfcny.com

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE - CLASS FOUR LASER

I have a class four pain laser for sale. Used for plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, neuroma, arthritic conditions and even fungus toe nails This laser is portable, re-chargable and can be move from room to room or office to office. This isn't the cold laser that you see. It is a 10 watt laser. We have used this laser on NFL sports players. For those that understand a good laser. E-mail David Zuckerman, DPM for Details and pricing. footcare@comcast.net

PRACTICE FOR SALE - NORTHERN NJ

Well established, part-time practice is for sale in Northern NJ. Digital X-rays, EMR, located in a medical condo building. Surgery 35%, Routine 30%, Average Gross is $130K on 2 half days per week. Priced for quick sale. Real estate available for purchase. Please call 800-983-4194, or e-mailc ontactus@podiatrypracticeconsultants.com

PRACTICE FOR SALE - ARKANSAS

Busy, well established practice of 13 years grosses 160K/year for the past 5 years, while working 3.5 days/week. Nursing homes available. 50% Medicare, average of 15 new patients/week. Doctor retiring. Please call 800-983-4194 for more details, or e-mailcontactus@podiatrypracticeconsultants.com

PRACTICE FOR SALE - NORTH DALLAS, TX

Great opportunity; 26 year old solo practice, reasonably priced. General practice consisting of hospital surgery, office surgery, orthotics, children, adults, geriatrics. Turn-key office located in medical building inside Loop 635. Will consider owner finance with down-payment.dallasfootdr@yahoo.com

PRACTICE FOR SALE - SOUTHERN OH

Busy, well-established, full-time home visit practice. 100% referral-based. Wound care, pain management, routine care & DME’s. Excellent income, low overhead. DPM relocating out-of-state for family. Contact: nanetter@zoomtown.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - SOUTH CAROLINA
 
Upstate practice seeking PSR-24/36 trained associate. Full-time position with partnership opportunity. Must be ethical, highly-motivated with strong surgical and medical skills. Please send CV to palpodiatry@att.net

ASSOCIATE POSITION - EAST TENNESSEE

30 year old practice with 5 offices in greater Knoxville area seeking ethical, personable, hardworking, team player. Extremely competitive base salary with bonus incentives and benefits. Knoxville is consistently ranked in top 5 places in U.S. Post-residency experience a plus. Please send resume toddavidphawk@yahoo.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - TEXAS (HOUSTON AREA)  

Become a “SUCCESS”! Multi-professional podiatric practice seeks personable, talented, enthusiastic physicians with expertise in any of these areas: 1. Biomechanics 2. Geriatrics  3. Pediatrics 4. Trauma. Send CV and letter of intent to: sierrajip@gmail.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - PORTLAND, OREGON

Busy office with good steady referral sources looking to expand. Areas of expertise wanted: wound care, surgery of all aspects, knowledge of running an office. Please come with good personality and hard work ethics. New main and satellite offices. mail: office.pfac@gmail.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - UPSTATE NEW YORK

Outstanding Opportunity. Our medical surgical group is recruiting a well-trained licensed podiatric physician. Located in Beautiful upstate NY. Full hospital privileges, as well as working with two residency programs. Must be highly motivated and great with patients. Opportunity for growth. Competitive salary and benefit package. Please send CV to associateinfoot@yahoo.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION – IOWA CITY AREA

FULL-TIME ASSOCIATE POSITION – NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA (LEHIGH VALLEY)

Well-established, rapidly growing practice with multiple offices. Motivated, ethical and personable with well-trained PSR-24/36. Modern office’s with complete EMR, digital radiography, diagnostic ultrasound, and laser. Competitive salary/benefits package with partnership opportunity. If interested please fax your CV, letter of intent and references to: 610-432-4887.

ASSOCIATE POSITION - SOUTH CENTRAL PA

Martin Foot and Ankle, largest provider of foot and ankle care in South Central Pennsylvania, is seeking a full-time associate interested in future partnership. Practice facilities and technologies include: Surgical Center, in-office Physical Therapy, six appointment locations, in-office MRI, digital x-ray, PSSD and PVR testing, diagnostic ultrasound, and Electronic Medical Records. We are looking to hire candidates with a minimum of a three-year surgical residency. Experience in rear foot and forefoot reconstruction, including complex nerve releases of the foot and leg, Charcot arthropathy, and arthrodesis is helpful. E-mail CV to mfatrans@aol.com

SPACE AVAILABLE - NYC & LI

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