|
|
|
|
|
PMNews
Browse PMNews Issues
Previous Issue | Next Issue
| PM News | |
The Voice of Podiatrists
Serving Over 15,264 Podiatrists Daily
October 19, 2013 #4,893  Publisher-Barry Block, DPM, JD
A partner of Podiatry Management http://www.podiatrym.com
E-mail us by hitting the reply key.
COPYRIGHT 2013- No part of PM News can be reproduced without the
written permission of Barry Block
|
|
| PM NEWS QUICK POLL | |
FINAL DAY TO VOTE
|
|
| HOSPITAL PODIATRISTS IN THE NEWS | |
WI Podiatrist Named President of Lakeshore Medical Clinics
Frank LaVora, Jr., DPM has been named President of Lakeshore Medical Clinics, a division of Aurora Medical Group. Lakeshore is a multi-specialty group with 15 locations throughout Southeastern Wisconsin, and includes over 110 physicians and more than 25 advanced specialty practice providers. LaVora has been in practice since 1992 and joined Lakeshore Medical in 1997. He has been instrumental in implementing an in-house billing and collection department for the group, as well as other corporate departments such as Finance, Human Resources Information Systems, and Clinic Operations.
 |
|
Dr. Frank LaVora |
In 2009, his partners voted Dr. LaVora as “Physician Administrator” of the group. Lakeshore Medical Group has over 700 employees. Both the Lakeshore physicians and Aurora Health Care leaders chose Dr. LaVora as president. LaVora is also on the teaching staff and an externship director for several area hospitals and podiatric surgical residency programs. He is a national examiner for the American Board of Podiatric Surgery.
|
|
| PODIATRISTS IN THE COMMUNITY- PART 1 | |
PA Podiatrist Elected Vice-Chair of ACA
Dr. Arthur Helfand has been elected Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA). He began as a contractor while he was teaching in 1994, and in 2000, he became a member of the Prime Time Advisory Committee to help design primary health services for senior centers in Philadelphia.
 |
|
Dr. Arthur Helfand |
Helfand was elected to the Board in 2005-2007 and was elected Chair of the Board in 2007-2010, Treasurer in 2010-2013, and serves now as Vice Chair 2013-2014. PCA is the fourth largest American Aging Association (AAA) in the U.S. and is the largest not-for-profit AAA in the nation.
|
|
| PODIATRISTS IN THE COMMUNITY- PART 2 | |
FL Podiatrist Received Owl Scholarship Donor Award
Dr. Elizabeth Scheiber was honored at the October 12th, 2013 Florida Atlantic University (FAU) football game. Patrick Chun, FAU Athletic Director, presented Dr. Scheiber with a football signed by head coach Carl Pelini.
 |
|
Dr. Elizabeth Scheiber and Patrick Chun, FAU Athletic Director |
The honor was presented to Scheiber for her dedication to the FAU football team and the Athletic Department. The award is called the Owl Scholarship Fund Donor Of the Game.
|
|
| ON THE INTERNATIONAL LECTURE CIRCIT | |
MA Podiatrist Lectures at Two Conferences in India
Dr. Adam Landsman just returned from two conferences in India. The first stop was AIIMS Hospital (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in New Delhi, the second largest hospital in the world (8,000 beds). He had the opportunity to moderate the section on regenerative medicine, and delivered lectures on the use of advanced biologics for joint resurfacing, and presented a second lecture on his research using SilverStream, a silver solution used to disrupt biofilms prior to application of advanced biologics used for complex wounds.
 |
|
Dr. Adam Landsman (2nd from left) being presented Moderator's Award from Indian hosts. |
The second lecture was given at the 2nd international conference of the Society for Wound Care and Research (SWCR) at JIPMER, the leading medical school in India, which is located in Pondicherry. Landsman moderated the session on advanced treatments for wounds, and delivered another lecture on SilverStream in the context of a comprehensive wound care program.
|
|
| PRACTICE MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY | |
Eye Contact Builds Bedside Trust
Doctors who make a lot of eye contact are viewed as more likable and empathetic by patients, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study. Patients also gave doctors higher empathy scores when their total visit length was longer and when doctors engaged in a few "social touches" such as a handshake or pat on the back. However, more than three social touches in one visit decreased empathy scores. The researchers said it's possible that too many social touches from a doctor may seem forced and not genuine to a patient.
The study, published in the Journal of Participatory Medicine, analyzed videotaped doctors' visits and reinforces the notion that nonverbal social communication is an important part of doctor/patient relationships that should be thoughtfully managed, especially as more technology and "screen time" is introduced into doctors' offices.
Source: Science Daily via MDLinx [10/17/13]
|
|
| CODINGLINE CORNER | |
Query: Consultation Codes
Were the consultation codes eliminated by Medicare only or by other payers as well? Is there any situation where we would still use the CPT 9925x (initial inpatient consultation for a new or established patient) series?
Jeffrey Lehrman, DPM, Springfield, PA
Response: The consultation codes still exist in CPT. It's just that Medicare has decided that they will not recognize them. My personal belief is that Medicare got tired of trying to differentiate when a service was a consultation (when your opinion is requested, and someone else maintains care), or a referral (when transfer of that portion of the patient's cared is intended).
As far as I know, all other payers (at least in my area) still reimburse for consultation codes. Of course, consultation codes pay more. There could come a time when other payers see Medicare "getting away" with not paying for consultation codes, and follow suit...but it hasn't happened so far that I can see. Never forget, CPT is a product of the AMA, NOT Medicare. The AMA wants those codes to continue. It's just that Medicare doesn't want to pay for them, or to try to determine if a given visit was truly a consultation or was it a referral. In most instances, it is actually a referral.
Rick Horsman, DPM, Olympia, WA
Codingline subscription information can be found here
APMA Members: Click here for your free Codingline Silver subscription
|
|
| RESPONSES/COMMENTS (CLINICAL) | |
From: Elliot Udell, DPM
Dr. Young makes a good point. If the patient is suffering with acute or chronic gout, it is advisable to bring the uric acid levels down to below 6.0. There is debate going on in medical circles on whether low levels of hyperuricemia should be treated in patients with no symptoms of gout. Most causes of Achilles tendon pain at the calcaneal insertion are not caused by gout.
Hence, prior to considering uric acid lowering pharmaceuticals, it would be prudent to insert a needle into the area, flush out some of the fluid, and send it to a pathology laboratory for examination to determine if there are indeed uric acid crystals present. If the results are positive, then the clinician can have a discussion with the patient about diet and the pros and cons of uric acid-lowering medications.
|
|
ACE USA and RPS Healthcare Expand Podiatrist Professional Liability Coverage
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid guidelines and rules resulted in a record number of investigations and enforcement actions in 2011. ACE Medical Risk, a division of ACE USA, has responded through an endorsement that increases limits on Medicare/Medicaid legal expense reimbursements, raising coverage limits from $30,000 to $50,000 per action, with an annual aggregate of $50,000. This product is underwritten by companies within the ACE Group, an A.M. Best “A+” rated carrier, and is offered to podiatrists exclusively by RPS Healthcare, National Program Administrator of the Podiatry PLUS programs and one of the largest wholesalers and the largest Managing General Agent in the country. For more information Call 800-397-9697 ext 2646.
|
|
| QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL) | |
From: Mel Cheskin MBS, CPed
The recent article on shoe-fitting published in October's PM magazine should help answer Dr. Kinard's questions.
It's actually a lot easier to find narrow shoes for ladies than for men. SAS and Munroe both offer ladies shoes in a SLIM fitting, which is AAAA. For men, advise patients with narrow feet to stay away from loafers and stick with lace-up models. A 'B' fitting is regarded as narrow for men. There are still plenty of brands, including New Balance, that offer 'B' fittings for men. There are several accommodation methods in the fitting article on how to reduce slippage in footwear.
|
|
| RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1A | |
RE: The Passing of Ed Stein
Reflecting back to my student days with corporate development for the national student association in the mid-eighties, I remember a face and friendly demeanor that is still so vivid, always with a smile ear-to-ear and a warm handshake, Ed would greet everyone the same, whether a customer or not. Many lessons were learned from Ed about the business of people. I will never forget Ed and we thank him!
Hal Ornstein, DPM, Howell, NJ
Like many, I was sad to learn of the passing of Ed Stein. Ed was one of the first people to welcome me into the podiatry profession, some 40+ years ago, and at every conference since, he always went out of his way to say hello, share that BIG, memorable smile and be his friendly self. Ed often kidded Joan, his wife, that he and I were going to run away together, feeding into Joan's playful straight-face response of, "Good! Take him!" They were a real team, and my heart goes out to Joan today as she suffers the loss of her lifetime partner. He was a friend to many of us, and all of us who knew him, will miss him. Rest in Peace, Ed.
Lynn Homisak, Federal Way, WA
|
|
 >
|
|
| RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1B | |
RE: The Passing of Ed Stein
Ed was a wonderful man and Rep of his companies. He will be missed by so many of us.
Harold Vogler, DPM, Sarasota, FL
I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ed Stein. He was a true giant. I go back to buying from his father. Ed will be truly missed by all of podiatry. His wife Joan is a giant in her own right, and all of our thoughts and best wishes go to her.
Martin E. Karns, DPM, Miami Beach, FL
|
|
| RESPONSES/COMMENTS (ERRATA) | |
RE: Errata CPT Code 97597
From: Jeffrey D Lehrman, DPM, Paul Kesselman, DPM)
In the September, 2013 edition of PM on page 53, the definition of CPT 97597 is listed incorrectly. It says it is an add-on code, which it is not. Correct definition is:
"Removal of devitalized tissue from wound(s), selective debridement without anesthesia (eg, high pressure waterjet with/without suction, sharp debridement with scissors, scalpel and forceps), with/without use of whirlpool, topical application(s), wound assessment, and instruction(s) for ongoing care, per session; total wound(s) surface area less than or equal to 20 square centimeters".
Response: There is a typographical error which was recently brought to my attention. CPT code 97597 is the parent code of the series 97597, while 97598 is correctly listed as the add-on code. My regrets for this error and thanks to Jeffrey Lehrman, DPM for catching and reporting it.
|
|
| CLASSIFIED ADS |
CENTRAL KENTUCKY DIABETES MANAGEMENT FELLOWSHIP
Directed by Dr. Jonathan Moore of Cumberland Foot and Ankle Centers of Kentucky, this non-accredited, 1-year fellowship starts in July and offers a wide variety of training opportunities that focus on diabetes, but span a wide variety of pathologies and unique training opportunities. Work hands-on with our office administration team to learn ICD-10. Our on-staff certified orthotist, physical therapist, shoe store staff, MRI director and other team members will make this the most valuable training year of your career. Generous stipend, benefits, and free housing. Learn more at www.myhappyfoot.com (click the Fellowship Tab). Send CVs to jmoore@aappm.org.
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE - MEDICAL CABINETS AND PODIATRY CHAIRS
Medical cabinets, podiatry chairs and sonicator for sale (Long Island Office). Click here for photos and details.
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE -DIOWAVE 15 WATT, PORTABLE. 980 LASER
This is a used multiple function laser, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, joint pain. nerve pain, post surgical, warts toenail problems , two year plus warranty, MSRP: 18,500 E mail Dr. Zuckerman at: footcare@comcast.net. for questions and pricing .
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE - 2012 PINPOINTE FOOTLASER
FDA-cleared treatment for toenail fungus. Used only 30 times. Doc closing practice. Paid 66K asking 42K or best offer. Buyer pays shipping from Arizona. rmfleck@cableone.net or call Robin at 928-443-0943 Thursday or Fridays 8-5.PST.
PRACTICE FOR SALE - CONNECTICUT
Well-established, 35-year-old reputable practice/condo with approx 2,500 Square ft. Grossing approximately $450,000. Outside Hartford area. All phases of podiatry. Contact drsch52@hotmail.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION AVAILABLE – NEW YORK AND/OR NEW JERSEY
Hard work, grueling hours, and low pay. Seeking a top producer only. We are seeking motivated and enthusiastic associate to join our well-established practice. Send resume to footcomfort@outlook.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION - CENTRAL FLORIDA
Associate wanted for well-established practice in central Florida. Experienced support staff, malpractice coverage and health insurance provided. Excellent opportunity for a promising future. To apply please go to www.yourcareerinpodiatry.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION - CT (GREENWICH, FAIRFIELD AND NORTH HAVEN)
Join one of the largest podiatric groups in Connecticut. Well-established and progressive offices, including EMR, digital x-ray, vascular and NCV studies, Pinpointe and CO2 lasers, diagnostic ultrasound and electrical stimulation therapy. You can expect a full schedule of patients the day you start, and a very competitive salary. For more info www.greatfootcare.com. Send resume to:Dr.Kassaris@yahoo.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION - DAYTON, OHIO
Join an established group practice in Dayton, Ohio excellent reputation, large referral base. Base Salary$120,000, benefits and bonus structure. EMR;diagnostic ultrasound; Padnet; CO2 and Cutera Laser for nails, all aspects of DME. We need well trained personable PSR24/36 surgeon. Future Buy-in available. Please send CV to: Ohiomedical@aol.com
ATTRACTIVE OPPORTUNITY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
30 year old practice for sale, furnished office, hospital and physician referrals. Seeking conscientious, well trained DPM with wound care experience. Submit CV to dr.jeanturner@yahoo.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION - PENNSYLVANIA
Associate Wanted for busy, multifaceted podiatry practice in Chester and Delaware counties, Pennsylvania. Seeking PSR-24/36 trained podiatrist for full/part time associate position. Two offices and hospital privileges. Send CV and letter to: 123bunion@gmail.com
PODIATRIST WANTED - MN
We are seeking highly motivated, experienced and enthusiastic associate’s to join our successful, well-established practice, we currently have 6 locations and plans to add more, throughout Minnesota. The practice incorporates surgery, wound care, sports medicine and general podiatry. This opportunity offers an excellent salary, bonus and % commission with benefits, also an opportunity to become an associate down the road. PPMR/PSR required. Email CV to: kpepple@midwestpodiatrycenters.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION – SOUTHWEST, FL
R U a SuperStar? PM&S36 or PSR24. Comfort W Recon surgery. Hardworking w/o Ego. Excellent salary, benefits, chance at partnership. ABPS BC/BQ required RRA. Send CV, Tell why you are a superstar. mny1029@gmail.com
PM News Classified Ads Reach over 14,500 DPMs and Students
Whether you have used equipment to sell or our offering an associate position, PM News classified ads are the fastest, most-effective way of reaching over 14,500 DPMs. for details, click here or write to:bblock@podiatrym.com or call (718) 897-9700 for details. Weekly ad rates start as low as $119 for a 50-word ad. THIS OFFER DOES NOT APPLY TO BUSINESSES PROVIDING PRODUCTS OR SERVICES. Note: For commercial or display ads contact David Kagan at (800) 284-5451.
|
| 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.
| | Guidelines |
- 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.
| |
|
Browse PMNews Issues
Previous Issue | Next Issue
|
| |
|
|
|
