From: Cosimo Ricciardi, DPM
I read with curiosity Dr. Ivar Roth’s comments on “practicing ethically” and not “chasing a dollar”.
Perhaps he could expound on his previous post on his ethical conversion of a patient’s $125 cash nail care office visit to a $3,525 cash office visit.
Cosimo Ricciardi, DPM, Fort Walton Beach, FL
From: Elliot Udell, DPM
Thank you George for shining a light on this important area. Covid was akin to a tornado that wrecked all live conventions, including medical conferences. Right now, the APMA, state societies, and other sponsors of conventions are cleaning up "the debris" by once again starting some live conventions even if they have to choose smaller hotel venues. You are correct, many doctors are still not attending. Let's be open and honest about the situation. To attend a live convention, the doctor is forced to pay travel expenses, hotel room expenses and meals, in addition to paying the tuition to the sponsor of the convention. It costs the doctor over a thousand dollars to go to an out-of-town convention.
One of the things I loved when lectured at and attended live conventions was mingling with companies in the booth hall. I learned a lot about new products for my patients, and in many cases got to give them samples provided by the vendors. I assure you that most if not all of my colleagues looked forward to seeing you and talking with you and your colleagues at live conventions. The big question, however, is this: Do the benefits of attending an in-person event make up for going to a "Zoom" convention where the doctor can literally roll out of bed, flick on the computer, attend all of the lectures, and get his or her CME credits at a fraction of the price? This problem will not be resolved overnight but with innovation, maybe we can turn things around.
Elliot Udell, DPM, Hicksville, NY
