I was wondering if podiatrists are allowed to perform general history and physical examinations on patients before surgery or is that dependent on the state's scope of practice.
Can podiatrists perform their own history and physical?
- Thread starter CHOPSTIX
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I believe tt is state dependent. In Ohio we can do that but I can't say the same is true for the other states. In those cases, the anesthesiologist would have to sign off the H&P for the patient.
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It depends on the state law and the hospital rule as well.
It also depends on the ASA level of the patient. Most places require the primary care doc to do the H&P if the patient is ASA 3 or greater. Many orthos and other specialties would not sign off on an H&P for their own patient if they are ASA >3 as well. Anesthesia usually requires surgical clearance for these sicker patients by at least the primary care then also sometimes by cardiology.
In all aspects of podiatry and medicine - just because the law says that you can does not mean that you should. You do what is right for the patient.
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It's not really the state scope of practice, because I'm unaware of any state laws that prohibit DPMs from doing an H&P. It's more the hospital credentialling/policy that decides this.
JCAHO has said DPMs can perform their own H&Ps.
The answer is Yes. I do my own. On patients who have been referred or those with unstable medical conditions, I send them back to their FP or IM. Younger children are typically referred back to their pediatrician ( it makes anesthesia happy). Some hospitals do not allow their DPMs to do these. Mine do.
