Arizona + Amputations

[JEWmongous]

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I'm curious about the scope of practice in arizona in relation to amputations. I read that pods cannot even do toe amputations there. Could someone fill me in on the real deal? It seems a bit ridiculous because it appears that pods can do surgery below the knee (osseus and soft tissue) in Arizona but not any amputations.

I heard someone say once that pods label amps in arizona as "aggressive debridements" to work around the law. No idea if it's true though.

 

[SportPOD]

I'm curious about the scope of practice in arizona in relation to amputations. I read that pods cannot even do toe amputations there. Could someone fill me in on the real deal? It seems a bit ridiculous because it appears that pods can do surgery below the knee (osseus and soft tissue) in Arizona but not any amputations.

I heard someone say once that pods label amps in arizona as "aggressive debridements" to work around the law. No idea if it's true though.

Podiatrists aren't allowed to do amputations in Arizona (not even the toe). Yes it is ridiculous, but a change is possibly in the works (can't go into too much detail due to the sensitive political nature, pod vs pod sensitive not ortho vs pod).

Aggressive debridements can be done, but at your own risk. This was done by a podiatrist several years ago and he took a sabbatical for a year. In general, when an amputation is required, I turf the patient back to the hospitalist with a recc for ortho, vascular or plastic surgery consult for amp. Yes it does suck, but every day we are getting alot of MDs and DOs on our side to fight this one out (oops saying too much)!

 

[jonwill]

Podiatrists aren't allowed to do amputations in Arizona (not even the toe). Yes it is ridiculous, but a change is possibly in the works (can't go into too much detail due to the sensitive political nature, pod vs pod sensitive not ortho vs pod).

Aggressive debridements can be done, but at your own risk. This was done by a podiatrist several years ago and he took a sabbatical for a year. In general, when an amputation is required, I turf the patient back to the hospitalist with a recc for ortho, vascular or plastic surgery consult for amp. Yes it does suck, but every day we are getting alot of MDs and DOs on our side to fight this one out (oops saying too much)!

Simply ridiculous.

 

[NatCh]

An Attending from Tucson once explained it to me that in order to change the scope of practice to do amputations they would have to open up the entire scope of practice to re-interpretation. In other words, try to get amps and they risk losing ankles.

 

[jonwill]

As a first year resident, I did about a million amps and I have to say that it's not that gratifying. However, I just think it would be annoying to have to refer it out.

 

[SportPOD]

As a first year resident, I did about a million amps and I have to say that it's not that gratifying. However, I just think it would be annoying to have to refer it out.

How do you think the ortho, vascular and plastic surgeons feel when they get the referral from us for an amp. Nine times out of ten I get a call back asking why they got a referral from another surgeon. When they find out we aren't allowed to do amps, they shake their heads in disgust and ask if there is someone they can call at the hospital to change the privileges. When it is explained that it is at a state level, then they want to sign up for a petition. But as Nat explained earlier, there is a step wise approach to trying to get things changed. And it will take some time.

 

[Feli]

...there is a step wise approach to trying to get things changed. And it will take some time.

👍

 

[j0ez0r]

...and this right here is one more example why we need a uniform scope of practice around the nation... 🙁