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PM News |
The Voice of Podiatrists
Serving Over 17,036 Subscribers Daily
October 14, 2015 #5,497 Publisher-Barry Block, DPM, JD
A partner of Podiatry Management http://www.podiatrym.com E-mail us by hitting the reply key. COPYRIGHT 2015- No part of PM News can be reproduced without the written permission of Barry Block
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PM NEWS QUICK POLL |
Quick Poll
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Are you a Workers' Compensation Provider? |
![](http://podiatrym.com/vote.jpg) |
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PODIATRISTS IN THE COMMUNITY |
PA Podiatrist Joins Lehigh Valley Physician Group
Brittany Portonova, DPM, podiatric surgeon, joins the group’s Hazleton location. She received her Doctor of Medicine degree from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine and completed her podiatric medicine and surgery residency at Hahnemann University Hospital.
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Dr. Brittany Portonova |
Since she is a dancer and runner, Dr. Portonova was attracted to podiatric medicine as a career after frequent visits to podiatrists for foot problems.
Source: The Times-Tribune [10/11/15]
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PODIATRISTS IN THE COMMUNITY - PART 2 |
IL Podiatrist Returns to Champaign To Open Clinic
A former Christie Clinic doctor is coming back to town to open his own independent podiatric clinic. Dr. R. Gregory Walters, 50, of Bloomington, announced last week that FeetLabs Walters Podiatric Surgery and Medicine will open at the end of the month.
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Dr. R. Gregory Walters |
A native of Champaign, Walters worked for Christie Clinic for more than 10 years before he moved his practice to Bloomington, but he said he missed Champaign-Urbana so much that he decided to return to the community. Walters is on staff at Provena Covenant Medical Center.
Source: The News Gazette [10/11/15]
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SUCCESS TIPS FROM THE MASTERS |
Bret Ribotsky: What’s new and exciting in research today?
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Dr. Adam Landsman |
Adam Landsman: What I see that is hot on the diagnosis side of medicine is genetic testing. Where I practice, we have a full department of genetic medicine. This is changing the current shotgun approach, to an almost gene-specific identification of the pathology.
Meet the Masters airs live every Tuesday night. This week's guest is to be announced. You can register for this and future events by clicking here
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PRACTICE MANAGEMENT TIP OF OF THE DAY |
11 Things to Know about the Meaningful Use Final Rule - Part 1
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released a massive final rule making modifications to Stages 1 and 2 of the Electronic Health Records Meaningful Use program, covering 2015 through 2017. The rule also finalizes Stage 3. What are the key takeaways? Here are the top things to know for healthcare IT executives.
1. Hospitals and Eligible Professionals were struggling to meet Stage 2 requirements. The new rules simplify requirements and add flexibility to enable the industry to continue to make progress on EHR initiatives, receive stimulus funding for their efforts, and avoid penalties. The new rules ease reporting requirements, support interoperability, and seek to “improve patient outcomes,” CMS says.
Source: Health Data Management [10/11/15]
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CODINGLINE CORNER |
Query: Non-Pressure Ulcer Codes
What is the difference between the codes for non-pressure ulcers with fat exposed with necrosis, and with skin breakdown?
Tina Wright, Muncie, IN
Response: This is your way to indicate the depth and involvement of the ulcer.
For these L97 codes, if the breakdown of tissue associated with the ulcer is limited to just a breakdown of skin, use a sixth character of "1".
If the ulcer is deeper and the fat layer is exposed, use a sixth character of "2".
Jeffrey Lehrman, DPM, Springfield, PA
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RESPONSES/COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) |
From: Elliot Udell, DPM, Harold M Koehler, DPM
This sounds like erythromelagia. Has this been considered and worked up?
Harold M Koehler, DPM, Southfield, MI
In the body of your query you mentioned two terms. One was "CRPS" and the other was "psychiatrist." All too often when physicians cannot come up with a proper diagnosis or render appropriate medical or surgical care, they either say the patient has Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or emotional problems requiring a mental health professional. Let me not be misunderstood, CRPS and emotional problems do exist, but all too often serious, treatable pathology is prematurely shunted toward pain management specialists or psychiatrists without first guiding the patients toward comprehensive medical work-ups.
The case described begs for a far more extensive work-up at an academically-based health care setting. If this were my patient, I would refer the patient to the Mayo Clinic or a place such as John Hopkins prior to assuming that the problem has an untreatable pain syndrome or an emotional problem that is presenting itself as a pedal condition.
Elliot Udell, DPM, Hicksville, NY
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RESPONSES/COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 1 |
From: Joshua Gerbert, DPM, Jim Shipley, DPM
I had LASIK surgery 20 years ago, and for close-up work, I wore glasses that were clear on the top 70% and -1.5 magnification on the bottom. This allowed me to have protective eyewear both in the clinical situation and in surgery.
Joshua Gerbert, DPM, Kamuela, HI
A few years ago, when the smallish type frames and lenses for eye glasses became popular, I started to worry about blood splatter. I started wearing mask visors over my glasses, but then had to put up with consistent fogging. I decided to get Lasix done and have been very happy ever since. That was about 6 years ago. The only downfall I saw, was that I can't see clearly at around 6 inches or closer from my face. This isn't a really applicable distance for humans, except when my little girl is giving me kisses.
Jim Shipley, DPM, Mount Airy, NC
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RESPONSES/COMMENTS (MEDICAL-LEGAL) - PART 1A |
From: Lawrence Rubin, DPM
I previously spent over 30 years as a consultant to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Region V Medicare Carriers, the OIG, and the FBI. I don't know how the level of insurance billing fraud of podiatrists compares to other physicians, but I bet the overwhelming primary cause of a podiatrist being accused of fraud, indicted for fraud, and convicted for fraud nowadays is the same as it had been then: Billing CPT code 11730, partial or complete surgical nail avulsion, when the documentation clearly indicates it is routine foot care.
Lawrence Rubin, DPM, Las Vegas, NV
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RESPONSES/COMMENTS (MEDICAL-LEGAL) - PART 1B |
From: Michael M. Rosenblatt, DPM
Dr. Schneider asked a question concerning publishing about "podiatry and Medicare fraud." The Editor replied: "that these are posted to "try to educate podiatrists not to get caught in the web created by OIG (and others.)" I have worked with a number of DPMs who have been accused of Medicare fraud. The largest number of these have been "nail wedge resections billed as surgery WITHOUT injected local anesthesia or post-op follow-up." In almost all such cases, the charts have been inadequate, without a discussion of history, circulatory, cutaneous status or detailed examination. Unfortunately, inadequate charting does not allow defense to "convert" those billings into RFC or E&M. There's just no data in the charts.
I have written at least one major article in Podiatry Management Magazine on "Documenting Nursing Home Care." Investigators can easily demonstrate nail wedge resections with a computer search of billings. They just look for the largest numbers. This is a direct line to DPMs who are doing these in nursing homes. Prosecutions are easy. Your career as a DPM is finished. The fallout to affected families is beyond desperation. The irony is that it is NOT difficult to effectively document NH visits. But you need to know the rules: About 30-60% of such visits are not paid. If you cannot accept this, don't go.
I strongly support the Editor publishing news about these prosecutions against DPMs. If reading about these saves just one DPM and his/her family, it is well worth it. It is no exaggeration to suggest that the Editor is performing a function that could saves lives.
Michael M. Rosenblatt, DPM, San Jose, CA
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YOU CAN'T MAKE THESE THINGS UP |
RE: Outrageous Shoe of the Day
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Seen at the "Stiletto" Winery? |
I took this photo at the Sittella Winery, Swan Valley, Perth, Western Australia. This may be a safer alternative use for stiletto shoes.
Source: Submitted by Dr. Lee J. Sanders
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MEETING NOTICES
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NEED CME CREDITS FAST?
PODIATRY MANAGEMENT'S AFFORDABLE ONLINE CME
You can Earn up to 50 CPME-Approved CME Contact Hours Online
Earn 15 Contact Hours only $195
(Only $13 per credit) http://www.podiatrym.com/cme.cfm
All required credits can be taken online for AL, AK, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, HI, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MI, NV, NJ, NM, ND, OH, OR, RI, SC, SD, UT, VA, WV, WI, & WY
Partial required credits can be taken online for AZ, CT, FL, GA, ID, KY, IL, IA, MO, MT, NE, NH, NY, NC, OK, PA, PR, TN, TX, VT, WA, and DC
Choose any or ALL from 30+ CME Category-1 articles posted
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CLASSIFIED ADS - PART 2- ASSOCIATE POSITIONS AND FELLOWSHIPS |
ASSOCIATE POSITION - NYC
Lucrative position available for motivated, entrepreneurial Podiatrist in busy, upscale Park Avenue practice. Fabulous opportunity for creative, confident, skilled individual who is interested in all aspects of Podiatry, including surgery and office based procedures. Partnership opportunity. Contactinstitutebeaute885@gmail.com for details.
MOBILE PODIATRISTS NEEDED - HOME FOOT CARE, INC.
Looking for podiatrists to service the following areas: Las Vegas, Nevada, Oxnard/Ventura County, Santa Barbara, Lancaster/Palmdale, San Bernardino/Riverside, Palm Springs/Palm Desert. Full or Part-time available, Full/Part time available, flexible schedule, independence, excellent compensation, electronic billing/scheduling, great support staff. If interested, email CV to: homefootcare@hotmail.com check us out @ www.footdocs2u.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION - SOUTHWEST, FL
Associate position, now or July '16: must be BC by ABFAS, ability to work independently on complex cases. Long hours, hospital rounds, ER calls, great work ethic, team players needed. Fellowship experience preferred, not mandatory. LOI with how you are a superstar, LOR from director, key attendings, CV. great salary, bonus, partnership buy-in. Naples, FL klamdpm@hotmail.com
ASSOCIATE –PARTNERSHIP- OWNERSHIP FAST TRACK- CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA
If you’re bright, articulate, and skilled in all aspects of foot and ankle surgery with a prime focus on the biomechanics of foot and leg function, I’m interested in you. Earn what you’re worth and live in Silicon Valley. Send resume to setdpm44@yahoo.com.
PART-TIME POSITION- CENTRAL NJ
Well established podiatry practice is looking for a hard working and motivated individual to work in all aspects of podiatric medicine and surgery. Please send CV to: advancedfoot1@aol.com
PODIATRIST WANTED - HOUSTON AREA
Looking for a great way to start your practice? Houston Podiatry is offering a great opportunity for Podiatrists looking for stable income while building their own practice. Full and part time positions are available and pay is set as a daily rate. All applicants must be licensed in Texas and carry their own malpractice insurance. Please submit resume with LOI to doctoranthon@gmail.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION - CENTRAL FLORIDA
Associate wanted for well-established practice in central Florida. Experienced support staff, great benefits including malpractice coverage . Excellent opportunity for a promising future. To apply, go to www.yourcareerinpodiatry.com
POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA WITH WOUNDTECH
Why Woundtech? Largest employer of podiatrists * Earn a six figure living (No nights, No weekends, No call) * Benefits offered (health, dental, vision and paid malpractice)* No billing (No ICD10)* Flexible schedule.If you are ready to take back control of your life give me a call @ 954-602-9148 or email me @manker@woundtech.net to get a priority interview.
ASSOCIATE POSITION – GEORGIA
Village Podiatry Group, a subsidiary of Extremity Healthcare, has opportunities for motivated, talented, and board qualified or certified doctors to start immediately. Ideal candidates have 5+ years’ experience and knowledge of coding/billing. EHI currently offers the following ancillaries: Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Vascular Intervention Centers, Compounding & Retail Pharmacy, JACCHO Accredited Pathology lab able to perform Anatomic Pathology, DNA & Pharmacogenetics. We are also adding Hyperbaric Medicine, Wound Care and other ancillary services. Our successful model is built to enrich the physicians and their efforts. Serious inquiries to Tony Brzezicki, HR, tbrzezicki@extremityhc.com or fax (770.874.1748). EHI offers a competitive benefits package.
PM NEWS CLASSIFIED ADS REACH OVER 16,500 DPMs AND STUDENTS
Whether you have used equipment to sell or are offering an associate position, PM News classified ads are the fastest, most-effective way of reaching over 16,500 subscribers. For details,click here or write to: bblock@podiatrym.com or call (718) 897-9700 for details. For commercial or display ads contact David Kagan at (800) 284-5451.
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CLASSIFIED ADS PART 1 - PRACTICE FOR SALE OR WANTED, EQUIPMENT FOR SALE |
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE – PODIATRY OFFICE CLOSING
Bronx podiatry office closing. Everything must go. X-cell x-ray machine, cassettes, Midmark 117 examining table (needs work), rolling matching cabinet, Stryker cast cutter, Mettler therapeutic ultrasound, chart, filing and storage cabinets, many surgical hand instruments, medical supplies, waiting room furniture. lee10462@gmail.com. (718) 829-7455.
PRACTICE FOR SALE – BONITA SPRINGS, FLORIDA
15 year old well established satellite podiatry practice for sale immediately. Well-equipped treatment rooms, digital x-ray. Located in busy multispecialty medical building with very busy Urgent Care Clinic, Outpatient Surgical Center, pharmacy, CT and MRI imaging center. Email bonitaspringspodiatry4sale@gmail.com
PRACTICE FOR SALE - WASHINGTON, DC
- Established practice for sale. Owner desires to sell and transition. High volume surgery and office patient base. Hospital, Surgery Center and Residency program affiliated. Contact: MCrosby518@gmail.com
DESIRABLE LOCATIONS TO SUBLET AND SHARE - NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY
Midtown, Gramercy, Financial District and Plainview (North shore of Long Island) turn-key. Extremity MRI, Extremity CT scanner, diagnostic ultrasound, digital xray in selected offices. Fair Lawn ASC,LLC a dedicated certified ambulatory surgical center for foot and ankle surgery accepting applications for staff privileges 516 476-1815 PODO2345@AOL.COM
PRACTICE WANTED
Two 3rd year residents seek to buy a practice financially stable to sustain two podiatrists. Well trained in conservative care, forefoot surgery, and wound care. Willing to move anywhere and start practicing in July 2016. Ideally selling physician would stay on during transition period. Please email footdoctors2016@gmail.com with more information.
PRACTICES WANTED - GEORGIA, TENNESSEE & OTHER SOUTHEASTERN STATES
If you are serious about selling or merging your practice into our model, the EHI Equity Based Supergroup Model, then we are interested in a conversation. We are looking mainly in Georgia and the Atlanta area but we will be ready for scaling in early 2016. Our practice top 3 criteria are; successful, must have a high volume of patients and Physicians who stay must be willing to utilize EHI's in-house ancillaries. If you meet these criteria, send us an e-mail to dhelfman@extremityhealthcare.com and dmazzone@globalmna.com, our investment banking firm.
PM NEWS CLASSIFIED ADS REACH OVER 16,500 DPMs AND STUDENTS
Whether you have used equipment to sell or are offering an associate position, PM News classified ads are the fastest, most-effective way of reaching over 16,500 subscribers. For details, click here or write to: bblock@podiatrym.com or call (718) 897-9700 for details. For commercial or display ads contact David Kagan at (800) 284-5451.
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Disclaimers |
Acceptance and publication by this newsletter of an advertisement, news story, or letter does not imply endorsement or approval by Barry Block or Kane Communications of the company, product, content or ideas expressed in this newsletter. Podiatric Medical News does not represent the views, and is a separate entity from Podiatry Management Magazine and Podiatry Management Online. Any information pertaining to legal matters should not be considered to be legal advice, which can only be obtained via individual consultation with an attorney. Information about Medicare billing should be confirmed with your State CAC.
THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR
ENTITY TO WHICH IT IS ADDRESSED AND MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT IS
PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL AND EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE.
If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an
employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the
intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination,
distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly
prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please
immediately notify me and you are hereby instructed to delete all
electronic copies and destroy all printed copies.
DISCLAIMER: Internet communications cannot be guaranteed to be
either timely or free of viruses.
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- To Post a message, send it to: bblock@podiatrym.com
- Notes should be original and may not be submitted to
other publications or listservs without our express written
permission.
- Notes must be in the following form:
RE: (Topic)
From: (your name, DPM)
Body of letter. Be concise. Limit to 250 words or less). Use
Spellchecker
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- Subscribers are reminded that they have an ethical obligation to disclose any potential conflicts of interest when commenting on any product, procedure, or service.
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