Podiatry Today Current Issue

News and Trends

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

Study: Wrong Shoe Size In Veterans Tied To Diabetic Ulcers

Shoes that fit poorly are often named as a factor in the development of diabetic foot ulcers. A recent study in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association (JAPMA) questioned whether veterans wear appropriately sized shoes and found that three-quarters of those studied did not.

Study authors evaluated the shoe sizes of 440 veterans at Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. Of those, 58.4 percent had diabetes and 6.8 percent had an active diabetic

Looking For Alternatives To Conventional Assumptions

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

The numbers jump out at you. Steven Peltz, CHBC, a leading practice management consultant, estimates that over 40 percent of an average practice’s accounts receivable are over 90 days old. As Peltz points out, this may signify a lack of a sound process for collecting on overdue accounts or perhaps less effort in collecting on older claims and denials as they may be more difficult and time-consuming than collecting on more recent claims.

This is one of the salient points that emerges from Peltz’s cover story, “In-House Billing: Assessing The Pros

Is Inhaled Insulin A Viable Alternative For Patients With Diabetes?

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), diabetes affects more than 230 million people worldwide and is expected to affect 350 million by 2025. Controlling blood glucose levels via subcutaneous injections of insulin has been a key clinical intervention for many people. While injected insulin has proven to be a reliable intervention, it is met with significant resistance by patients who want to avoid the stigma and pain associated with this therapy.

Over the years, extensive research has been conducted in an effort to develop a less i

What Improved Goal Setting Can Do For Your Practice

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

The excitement has been building for months. The whole family has been packing, reviewing brochures, talking about the spectacular scenery and preparing for what they expect to be the vacation of a lifetime. The day of departure arrives and the whole family loads into the packed station wagon for the fun-filled, two-week adventure. Starting down the road, you have a general idea of the direction of your destination but nothing more. Who needs a map? Just head south and ask at convenience stores along the way. The locals are always helpful.

Would you e

How To Maximize The Efficacy Of Orthotic Prescriptions

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

In this month’s discussion, our expert panelists discuss the importance of an arthrometric exam, whether one should lean more toward accommodation or control with orthotic prescriptions, and share a few key pearls they have learned over the years in optimizing the effectiveness of prescription orthoses.

Q: Do you feel that the arthrometric examination plays a relevant role in your orthosis prescribing?

A: For Kevin Kirby, DPM, the arthrometric examination along with the physical exam and gait exam enable podiatrists to

In-House Billing: Assessing The Pros And Cons

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

“No one will care about collecting your money more than you.” While that may seem to be stating the obvious, it puts all owners of practices in the position of making the decision as to who will take on this task. Do you delegate this critical task to a key member of your office staff or do you farm it out to an outside billing company?

Whatever decision you make, it is essential to monitor the situation, gauging the effectiveness of your billing and collections, and the impact upon your practice.

In some circumstances, it

Chronic Ankle Instability: Can Orthotics Help?

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

Podiatric physicians use foot orthotics daily to treat a myriad of lower extremity conditions. Yet while the foot orthotics industry has been growing each year, researchers in the field of biomechanics have begun to challenge previous clinical studies showing that foot orthotics really work. At the same time, third party insurance payors have started questioning the value of foot orthotic therapy on the grounds that this treatment intervention is “experimental” and still without verification of the overall benefit.

Podiatric physicians may have a

Tissue Volumizing: Can We Create An Internal Orthotic?

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

The rapid rise in the incidence of diabetes, a serious lifelong condition, is of alarming concern to healthcare professionals. Recent data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that approximately 20.8 million people, roughly 7 percent of the United States population, have diabetes.¹ In 2005 alone, 1.5 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people aged 20 years or older.¹ Diabetes mellitus is a multifaceted disease and foot ulceration, which often results in lower extremity amputations, is one of the most common comp

Achilles Tendinopathy: What Are The Best Treatment Options?

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

When you perform a literature review on Achilles tendinopathy, be prepared to be inundated with a litany of citations. Literally hundreds of articles annually are dedicated to the investigation of this relatively enigmatic tendon. Some will focus on histological findings and others will feature anecdotal clinical investigations. A multitude of studies featuring newer, so-called “alternative” therapies are introduced and all the while, review-type articles of variable depth will litter your search.

Suffice it to say, filtering through this amount

An Alternative Approach To Plantar Plate Derangement

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:41 -0400

Plantar plate derangement with synovitis of the metatarsophalangeal joint complex is a progressively degenerative condition with an inflammatory component.¹ Recent clinical experience suggests that one can treat these pathologies successfully using plasma-mediated, radiofrequency-based microdebridement.

While the plantar plate of the metatarsophalangeal joint shows signs of degeneration, the metatarsophalangeal joint complex itself is inflamed (i.e. synovitis). Clinicians often find this condition in conjunction with the triad of hallux ab