02/04/2026    Joel Lang, DPM

Do you provide patients with your cell phone number?

While I have been retired for many years, some
needs don't change.

For procedures beyond a simple nail or wart
excision, I always scheduled a separate "pre-op",
no-charge appointment with the patient and their
advocate (if they wished someone else to attend) a
few days before surgery. At that visit I . . .

• Reviewed the surgical procedure (including x-
rays) and had the patient sign the consent form
after actually reading it to him/her and answering
any questions.

• Reviewed surgical fee and possible insurance
coverage (if known) and patient financial
responsibility. Payment arrangements were made if
appropriate.

• Gave the patient written pre-op instructions
which included thoroughly washing the part with
anti-bacterial soap (for 3 nights prior to
surgery), putting a "new" white sock the night
before surgery to sleep with it and wear it to the
procedure the next day. It would be removed in the
OR. I am not sure how necessary this was, but it
brought my post-op infection rate to nearly zero.

• Gave the patient their post-op prescription(s)
to fill before the surgery, so that it would be
waiting at home, instead of running around to get
it post-operatively.

• Gave the patient written post-op instructions
and answered any questions ahead of time, instead
of giving it to him/her after possible general
anesthesia when they would not remember anything I
said and it would all be new information with no
real opportunity to ask questions.

• Scheduled the first post-op appointment at that
time.

This made the surgical experience go much smoother
for everyone. After that visit, the patient was
perfectly prepared for the surgery.

And yes, I gave the patient my phone number for
two reasons. First, it gave the patient the peace
of mind to know that he/she could contact me at
any time if he/she needed to, which to my memory,
no one ever abused with unnecessary calls. Second,
if there was a complication or problem, I wanted
to know about it sooner rather than later.
This was my procedure for many years and served
everyone's needs well.

And by the way, after 35 years of practice, being
board-certified and operating at four hospitals, I
never had a malpractice claim.

Joel Lang, DPM, Cheverly, MD (retired)

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