The Voice of Podiatrists

Serving Over 9,800 Podiatrists Daily

October 18, 2007 #3,069 Editor-Barry Block, DPM, JD

A service of Podiatry Management http://www.podiatrym.com
E-mail us by hitting the reply key.
COPYRIGHT 2007- No part of PM News can be reproduced without the
express written permission of Kane Communications, Inc.

2008 HAWAII FARESAVER POSTED

Are you planning to go the 2008 APMA National Scientific Meeting and/or the PM News/Codingline Coding and Practice Management Workshop? If so, you'll want to check out our online faresaver at www.podiatrym.com/hawaii

This feature runs in realtime, and scrolls through the many cities currently providing discount or sale fares to Hawaii. You can even find roundtrip fares from Honolulu to Kona for $39. When you see your departure city, simply click on in and read the details.

Lack of Support in Racing Shoes Can Lead to Injury: FL Podiatrist

Dr. John Levin, a podiatrist with the Orthopedic Center of Palm Beach County in Lake Worth, frequently treats runners who sustain injuries because of racing shoes. "Most running shoes that have adequate support ... distribute the forces that occur when you run," Levin said. "These shoes don't have this, so the foot is more likely to be subjected to abnormal stresses and strains, like stress fractures in the metatarsals and heal, shin splints and tendon problems."

Dr. John Levin

The chances of injury increase for runners with pre-existing conditions such as hyper-pronation (feet that roll inward during running) or a high arch. "For the average kid that has no significant foot problems, they're fairly well-tolerated," Levin said. "But I tend to see the extremes. For young athletes that have these issues, they're at more of a risk for developing problems because the shoe lacks the support of a normal training shoe ... and aren't great shock absorbers."

Source: Jason Lieser, Palm Beach Post, [10/16/07]

Lewis Foundation Makes $15K Gift to the Yucatan Crippled Children’s Project at Barry

Now in its 10th year of operation, more than 5,000 crippled children in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico have received medical treatment, including life-altering surgeries as a result of the Yucatan Project at Barry University. In addition, 54 flights have been made and more than 75 physicians and 50 residents have volunteered over 20,000 hours to the project. The Lewis Foundation has provided Barry with close to $150,000 in support of the project, and this latest grant will be used to help cover the cost of travel, medical equipment and prosthetic devices for crippled children.

Dr. Charles Southerland (L) shown here with Dr. Eugenio Rivera and Dr. Nelson Gonzalez, graduates of BU's School of Podiatric Medicine, treat a 5-year-old girl with cerebral palsy. Three months after surgery she was able to put both of her heels flat on the floor for the first time.

The Yucatan Project is the brainchild of Dr. Charles Southerland, a podiatric surgeon at Barry’s School of Graduate Medical Sciences. A typical four-day trip for the Barry team, which includes a trip director, often Southerland himself, and three residents or an attending physician, involves a demanding schedule of surgeries and consultations. After arriving in Mexico Thursday evening, the team usually performs surgeries from 8 a.m. until midnight Friday at the Centro de Especialidades Médicas in the Yucatan city of Merida. They then spend much of the day Saturday evaluating candidates for surgery at a clinic in Progreso, a city about 20 miles from Merida, before heading back to Miami on Sunday.

Long lines often form in front of the clinic, and despite the number of trips he has made, Southerland said he never fails to be impressed by the sense of caring exhibited by the people of the Yucatan. “The people in the Yucatan, and in Mexico as a whole, are incredibly family focused. Every time you see a patient, whether it be a child or an elderly person, their family is always there to help them,” he said.

Gerland Elected President of NBPME

Jeffrey S. Gerland, D.P.M has been elected as president of the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners (NBPME) . Dr. Gerland is a graduate of Villanova University and of Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. He is board certified in Podiatric Orthopedics and in Primary Podiatric Medicine and served as an oral examiner for the board certification process from 1996 until 2002. He has been active with the American Diabetes Association, serving as a member of their board of directors for the Pennsylvania Affiliate and also as Vice-Chairman for the Main Line, Chester and Delaware County Chapters.

Dr. Jeffrey S. Gerland

In 1996, then Governor Ridge nominated Dr. Gerland to the Pennsylvania State Board of Podiatry. The Pennsylvania State Senate reappointed him in 2000. At that time, he was elected Chairman of the state licensing board, and continued in this capacity until the end of his second term.

Dr. Gerland is one of twelve podiatrists elected nationwide to serve on the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners. This board is responsible for the development and administration of the standardized three part national examinations that all podiatry students must pass in order to practice their profession. The Pennsylvania Podiatric Medical Association recognized Dr. Gerland with a Distinguished service award in 2002. He has acted as a mentor for many students in podiatry school and often has spoken with groups of students interested in podiatric medicine as a career.

Query: Effect of Dropping Out of Oxford

I have been in solo practice for over ten years in an upscale urban area and have a busy, managed care practice. I want to drop Oxford for low payment reasons. Can anyone comment about their experiences with dropping Oxford, and not having an associate to keep seeing these patients? Has it impacted your bottom line negatively or positively?

Name Withheld

RE: Board Certification Requirements for Hospital Staff (Doug Milch, DPM)
From: Gregory B. Nellis DPM, Robert Scott Steinberg, DPM

The American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine should obviously be acceptable for staff privileges, but the privileges can vary on an individual basis. As chairman of the credentials committee at my hospital, we encounter all kinds of privilege issues. These include low volume practitioners, certified or not. Activity and experience count, not just specific certification. As a podiatrist, I would also make sure that the profession is not being discriminated against. It is likely that some other staff practitioners are not board certified by any board. Grandfathering is allowed.

Gregory B. Nellis DPM, Gloversville, NY, gbndpm@yahoo.com

Having recently sat on my hospital's by-laws committee that completely re-wrote 89 plus pages of by-laws, let me tell you how our committee handled the issue of board certification of podiatrists. In a word, fairly. Though there was the inevitable push by a non-podiatrist (shill) to insert ABPS, when I pointed out that there were two surgical board paths available to podiatrists, the committee never, not for a moment, attempted to accept one over the other. Doing so would have been arbitrary, at best, and arbitrary decisions of those nature can results in successful lawsuits. So said the hospital's attorney, who also sat on the committee. Further, no one on staff who was not board certified was asked to leave. And yes, I made sure they all had a copy of Medicare's rules.

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

POSITION WANTED PHOENIX METRO AREA

Office getting too busy with winter visitors? Young practitioner available for part time help. Seasonal or temporary OK. Surgically trained. Flexible schedule. Direct inquiries to dlmeb5@yahoo.com

HOME FOR RENT- CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO

For rent: 2 bedroom-3 full bath fractional home on the Sea of Cortez at Grand Regina Westin, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Week of December 29, 2006 until Jan 5, 2008. Sleeps 8, full kitchen with washer and dryer. Outside balcony with hot tub overlooking the water. Ideal for family vacation. $5000. Photos available. Contact Amogreg@aol.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION – SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Seeking a position in a warm, friendly, and productive environment? Well, look no further! A well established podiatry facility in North Hollywood, California has an immediate position available for a podiatrist. He/She must be motivated, reliable, and dedicated. Depending on performance, partnership is possible. If interested, email your resume to drnickoghosyan@yahoo.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION CLEVELAND CLINIC

The Section of Foot and Ankle Surgery at Cleveland Clinic is seeking highly qualified board-certified/ board-eligible podiatrists to join our faculty. High volume clinical practice consisting of general podiatric care, wound care, and diabetic foot problems, along with a research background in diabetic foot complications and/or clinical outcomes. Please contact: Joe Vitale, @ vitalej@ccf.org

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT

Super Luxurious Custom Oceanfront Dreamhouse on Caribbean island of Bocas del Toro, Panama. FULLY FURNISHED 5000 SQ FT, 5 BED, 5 BATH, 2 KITCHENS, Infinity Pool, satellite TVs, wireless internet, Lush Tropical landscape, NEVER hurricanes. NO TAXES for 20 YEARS. $875,000. photos & info drritarae@yahoo.com

SALES REPS WANTED

Orthofeet is looking for independent sales reps to sell their line of shoes and orthotics. Orthofeet offers high end shoes and diabetic insoles that are covered by Medicare, along with competitive advantages and unique selling points. E-mail: mb@orthofeet.com

• 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
  Your name, DPM City/State
• Subscribers are reminded that they have an ethical obligation to disclose any potential conflicts of interest when commenting on any product, procedure, or service.