06/27/2024
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Financing Companies for Podiatric Services
For many years, we have been utilizing CareCredit from Synchrony Bank to finance podiatric services for patients who need/want to have these services performed, but could not afford to pay for them in full. Recently, we have noticed a significant decline in their level of customer service and we have decided to close our account with them.
I am hopeful that some of my colleagues who have had positive experience with other companies offering similar financing services can please share their experience and the name and contact information for that company.
Richard M. Cowin, DPM, Orlando, FL
06/10/2024
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
RE: Stealing Associates
We were approached by a company for practice acquisition. After we signed the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and handed them our financials, they asked for associates contracts and collections by each associate. After a month of negotiations, they came back with an excuse that our practice makes a lot of money and if they acquire our practice, they will have to pay the associates higher salaries.
One week after I informed our associates about the possible merger, one associate suddenly resigned without telling us to where the associate was going. A month after, the other associate resigned, and we found out that they were hired by the group. They used our financials basically to destroy our practice and to steal our associates. We just want to make sure that this does not happen to other practices. Any word of advice is appreciated.
Names Withheld
06/05/2024
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Resource for Practice Appraisal
Do you have any recommendations for a practice appraiser? I know PM News had someone listed in the past but this topic has not appeared recently.
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05/21/2024
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Upperline Health
I have been approached by Upperline Health to hire me as an employee and potentially buy out my practice, but I am unfamiliar with their business model and would like to know any feedback from those who have a business relationship with them.
Name Withheld
05/09/2024
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Podiatry-Specific Billing Companies?
I’m looking for recommendations or names of companies that do podiatry-specific billing?
Douglas Webb, DPM, Alvin, TX
04/08/2024
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Alternative to Quickbooks
I have been using Quickbooks for my office checkbook for several years. I originally purchased the disks for a couple hundred dollars and downloaded it onto my computer. My 11 year old version started causing problems so I contacted Quickbooks for an updated version. They put me in contact with a company that downloaded the 2024 QB version and converted all the files from the old version onto the office computers for over $1,000. Now Quickbooks has contacted me claiming that I need to purchase a 1-year license for this new version for $1,200, or data will possibly be lost.
There are only 2 users in my office (me and my billing person) and we do only basic functions on the program, as payroll is outsourced and we only print about 6-8 checks per month. The new version of QB Pro Plus has a lot of bells and whistles that we will never use. Is there a simple, cheaper checkbook program that others are using that they would recommend and won't cost me over $2,200 for a year's use?
Tom Silver, DPM, Minneapolis, MN
03/28/2024
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Fee for Credit Card Use
I'm considering adding a fee on all credit card charges. I'm paying about $300-400/month in credit card processing fees. With today's lower reimbursements and higher costs, these fees are becoming onerous. Many restaurants and retail stores are charging a fee for credit cards. What experiences have podiatrists had with charging a credit card fee?
Edward Orman, DPM, Perry Hall, MD
03/27/2024
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Wound Care in TN
I am thinking about starting a practice in TN. My current practice does a decent amount of wound care, split between my private office and the hospital/wound care center. I would like to continue to do this if I move my practice. I was wondering if the providers in TN have a similar split? Or is wound care primarily done in the office setting?
Name Withheld
03/14/2024
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Podiatrists Who Have Had Trigger Finger Surgery
I am wondering if anyone has any experience with trigger finger surgery. I have a busy mobile practice and I debride a lot of mycotic nails. As a result, I have developed a trigger finger of the 4th finger of my dominant hand. I’ve had 2 cortisone injections which provided temporary relief and two different hand specialists say they’ll only give two injections and then the treatment is surgery.
My question is, if you’ve had this condition and surgery, how much time did you realistically need to take off before you could resume debriding nails? One surgeon said it would be a week but I am not sure this is realistic so I am looking for some experience from those that have had the surgery.
Name Withheld
03/07/2024
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: AI Medical Scribes
I am curious as to what my esteemed colleagues feel about AI medical scribes. There's a lot to discuss. Are there medical-legal ramifications about the note (can one just blame the AI in a deposition?) Do you think patients want their notes taken in that way? Has anyone out there tried it, how does it pick up on a biomechanical exam with ROM measurements and x-ray reports?
Will notes have more errors or less? If we will need to re-read the notes that the AI made at the end of the day to make edits, does it really save us time? Are there ethical implications? Informed consent ramifications? Or any other unintended consequences?
Philip Wrotslavsky, DPM, San Diego, CA
02/14/2024
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Source for PowerPoint on Wound Care
Since retiring, I am now teaching clinical skills in the healthcare sciences at my local community college. I have been asked to present a brief lecture on wound care to the nursing/medical assistant students. I am looking for a PowerPoint presentation that contains pictures of various wounds and common treatments.
Greg Caringi, DPM, North Wales, PA
02/12/2024
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Charging a Fee for Accepting Credit Cards
I have been charged a fee when using a credit card in restaurants and some medical offices. Is anybody in this forum doing the same?
Jeffrey Klirsfeld, DPM, Levittown, NY
01/24/2024
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Foot Scanning with Android Phone
For years, scanning via mobile phone for orthotics purposes can only be done on an I-phone, We know that Android phones are far more than seventy percent of total mobile phone sales. When will scanning technology be available on them? This is getting to be a little strange considering how many thousands of apps are now available for Android users.
Robert D Teitelbaum, DPM, Naples, FL
01/22/2024
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Stryker Smart Toe Implant Safety in MRI
Does anyone have real world experience with patients having had MRI performed with a Stryker Smart Toe implant in situ? Their website simply states that its safety hasn’t been studied, so I inquired with my Rep who dug into this further and came back with the same answer. Any feedback is appreciated.
Jesse Riley, DPM, Payson, UT
01/01/2024
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Wireless Internet Providers
Is anyone using a wireless Internet provider? I’m deciding how much speed I really need: fiberoptic vs. wireless vs. cable. I will need a minimum of 5 mbps. Most wireless providers have a data limit. Is this a problem?
Jeff Leibovitz, DPM, Indianapolis, IN
12/20/2023
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Impact of Selling a Practice with Patient List but No Charts
I am selling a practice where the price would include the usual office space that is rented including office equipment and a list of my patients but without x-rays or EMR records. It is a low volume practice in New Jersey with no HMO participation. By what percentage would the practice value be reduced?
Name Withheld
11/27/2023
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Quick Remit Insurance Payments
I have noticed that more insurance companies are using Visa credit card type payments as an alternate payment method to regular checks in the mail. They offer a change to check payments but warn that there is no allowance to change back to the "Quick Remit" method. Has anyone regretted the change to check payment to avoid the bank charges? Should I just "take the money and run" to avoid delayed check reimbursements?
John Moglia, DPM, Berkeley Hts., NJ
11/22/2023
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: What to do with Medical Equipment When a Practice Closes?
When a podiatric practice closes, what does a practitioner do with an x-ray machine, fluoroscope, or even an ultrasound machine?
Rod Tomczak, DPM, MD, EdD, Columbus, OH
11/20/2023
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Practice Valuation Source
I am interested in selling my practice and would like to have an idea of what it is worth. Can anyone offer a recommendation for a company that would perform a valuation for me?
Name Withheld
10/23/2023
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Virtual Medical Receptionists
Does anyone have any experience with using companies/services that provide virtual medical receptionists to answer phones, schedule appointments, and verify insurances? We are looking to streamline our phone call volume and also to assist in times of employee turnover.
Anas Khoury, DPM, Passaic, NJ
10/17/2023
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Scanning Paper Charts
I am preparing for eventual retirement and need to scan paper patient charts to facilitate storage of patient records for the mandatory 7-year period of time. I plan to use a multipage feeder desk top scanner and external drive for storage and easy transport. It will probably take my staff a year to accomplish this by transferring charts between patients during office hours. Any better ideas would be appreciated. I am an old dog and not computer savvy. Hence, the paper charts.
John Moglia, DPM, Berkeley Hts, NJ
09/29/2023
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Job Demand for Podiatric Residents
According to Medpage Today, September 27, 2023, a majority of final year medical residents each received more than 100 job solicitations from recruiters in the form of letters, emails, and phone calls. How does this compare to the final year for podiatric residents?
Stephen Doms, DPM, Hopkins, MN
Editor's note: Today's PM News Classifieds Section contains 35 positions with salaries ranging up to $350,000.
09/25/2023
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Source for Podiatric Strappings and Paddings
There seems to be difficulty in buying tape for podiatric strappings and paddings. Does anyone know of any sources for this? None of the major suppliers have any.
Elliot Udell, DPM, Hicksville, NY
08/10/2023
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Recommendations for Diabetic Foot Text
I need a recommendation- what is the best book reference source on the diabetic foot?
Michael Z Metzger. DPM, Houston, TX
08/08/2023
QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL)
Query: Recommendation for a Credential/Provider Enrollment Specialist
I’m looking for a recommendation for a credential/provider enrollment specialist in Ohio?
Stan Luksenburg, DPM, Cleveland, OH
