How can Podiatry help with the Covid-19 response?

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is it present in nail dust and should we reconsider grinding of toenails?

Thank you, I will take your answer off the air
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Haha. I hate you. I've been writing a post in my head called "Novel Onychomycosis Lung" for about a week. It was going to read like a CNN article and feature commentary from young podiatrists about old podiatrists offices being deathtrap health hazards that need to be shut down and sold for nothing.
 
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I believe the CDC has made official recommendations encouraging all podiatrists over the age of 50 to discontinue their practices and retire early. For their own safety, obviously, as they are at greater risk of mortality when they ultimately contract the virus.

Hopefully PMnews gets the word out to their readership...
 
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dtrack22 said:
I believe the CDC has made official recommendations encouraging all podiatrists over the age of 50 to discontinue their practices and retire early. For their own safety, obviously, as they are at greater risk of mortality when they ultimately contract the virus.

Hopefully PMnews gets the word out to their readership...
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@ExperiencedDPM in 3,2,1......
 
Everyone knows that good foot support and prevention of terminal pronation is going to be the answer. As a matter of fact, I have custom pairs of prevention devices for sale at my office for the low price of 700 dollars.
 
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Infectious disease specialists at University center find aging podiatrist's lung infection may respond to terbinafine but therapy cut short when orthopedics recommends pulling plug.
 
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heybrother said:
Infectious disease specialists at University center find aging podiatrist's lung infection may respond to terbinafine but therapy cut short when orthopedics recommends pulling plug.
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No, they would never agree to medical therapy. They would just perform bone procedures of the ribs to increase ventilation pressures
 
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I heard rib raising (OMM) treats COVID-19 and makes you a better person.

Signed, DO student.
 
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APMA Launches New "Podiatrists: Not a Real Doctor" Campaign aimed at future students

Bethesda, Maryland. In a startling turn of events, the APMA has released its new student campaign aimed at students worried about dying to future Chinese viral pandemics. Reached for comment, APMA spokeswoman Eileen P. Kay had the following to say. "We're very excited about the new campaign. There's been a great deal of work put into exploring dramatic decreases in podiatry school enrollment. Based on hot off the presses surveys we think there are many future podiatrists out there interested in running away from patients with real medical problems. The hospital just isn't the hot draw it used to be." The new campaign will also be supplemented with a poster campaign for current practicing podiatrists offices. Many individuals are aware of the current podiatrist poster campaign "Podiatrist: Physician, Surgeon, Specialist". It will be replaced by the new poster set "Sick Patients- Go Home". 3/14/2020
 
I heard the best test for covid19 is a KOH prep of a toenail clipping
 
yeah, now is a great time to not be a real doctor
 
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We can help by cancelling non-emergent appointments.
Especially elderly with co existing conditions.
 
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DYK343 said:
We can help by cancelling non-emergent appointments.
Especially elderly with co existing conditions.
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I don't know if I my production can go any lower....good thing I am still on a salary
 
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Oh yeah, this sucks for all those 3rd years (and fellowship bros - BRO I DID A FELLOWSHIP) trying to get hospital jobs or MSG jobs right now. Pretty sure hiring a toenail clipper is at the bottom of their list right now
 
GreenHousePub said:
i think we will see the emergence of a new title amongst the podiatry elite: "Fellowship Trained Infectious Disease Foot and Ankle Surgeon"
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Fellowship trained Foot and Ankle Surgeon...............working for private practice podiatry. BUT....I’m a foot and ankle surgeon bro. Fellowship trained bro


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The nail appointments will still show up. These people will come to have their nails trimmed come hell or high water. They'll come through blizzards, floods, tornados, and sometimes they won't even let death stop them (hence the podiatrists in jail for billing dead folks). What makes you think a little strand of RNA is gonna keep them from darkening your office doors???
 
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Scrantonicity said:
The nail appointments will still show up. These people will come to have their nails trimmed come hell or high water. They'll come through blizzards, floods, tornados, and sometimes they won't even let death stop them (hence the podiatrists in jail for billing dead folks). What makes you think a little strand of RNA is gonna keep them from darkening your office doors???
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I just cancelled everyone 70 and older who needed nail care. They can wait another 3 months. I’m salaried


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CutsWithFury said:
I just cancelled everyone 70 and older who needed nail care. They can wait another 3 months. I’m salaried


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I cancelled quite a few too. Apparently that doesn't stop them either--a handful of them showed up anyways :)

Biggest problem is the waiting room--we're just having the patients go wait in their cars until we call them on their cell phones or come get them...
 
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My office is still seeing routine care patients but we are taking precautions. On confirmation calls, the staff is asking if they or anyone they've come in contact with has had any symptoms (difficulty breathing, coughing, fever, etc). If they have, then the appointment is cancelled. We are also decreasing the amount of patients we see per hour in order to ensure there is no one in the waiting room or in any other treatment room. Staff has also informed all patient's to please come on time for their appointments; not earlier or later. If they do end up being late or early, they are to call the office to make sure they are "okay" to come in.


When it comes to my wound care patients, that I'm still trying to figure out. I've considered going to their homes instead of having them come to the office. Local wound care isn't too difficult to do in the home as long as you have the supplies
 
Anybody still seeing RFC?...
 
I did today accidentally.

New patient, chief complaint of foot pain.... turns out it was RFC and his previous pod passed away at the end of last year.
 
I did a telehealth visit for fungal toenails today. I cut them with my mind. Billed a level 6 visit


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Nail patients still rollin' in (some literally rolling in)...they don't care lol
 
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CutsWithFury said:
I did a telehealth visit for fungal toenails today. I cut them with my mind. Billed a level 6 visit


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You mean you are talented enough to find an intermetatarsal neuroma, which always is found in a specific 1 inch area without ultrasound? You must have talent. And you can find the source or heel pain by palpating and without ultrasound? You really need to write a book.
 
ExperiencedDPM said:
You mean you are talented enough to find an intermetatarsal neuroma, which always is found in a specific 1 inch area without ultrasound? You must have talent. And you can find the source or heel pain by palpating and without ultrasound? You really need to write a book.
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I'm feeling intimidated by your wit and EXPERIENCE
 
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Scrantonicity said:
Nail patients still rollin' in (some literally rolling in)...they don't care lol
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Same here LOL. Though definitely just a fraction of my usual volume. I think part of the reason is that they are being told that this crisis could be going on for months. One of my patients today said pretty much this exact thing- they told me that they were being told this was going to continue through the summer and that they were going to end up coming in at some point during it.

Give it 2-3 weeks and volume will start increasing again.
 
“All feet on deck”

I get it. but can we stop being so corny
 
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My diabetic patient laughed so hard pus shot out of their feet.

I need to formally reread it, but it seems they are predicting long term negative effects on our practice. I'm personally experiencing it already.
 
heybrother said:
My diabetic patient laughed so hard pus shot out of their feet.

I need to formally reread it, but it seems they are predicting long term negative effects on our practice. I'm personally experiencing it already.
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Everyone is negatively impacted financially from COVID-19.
 
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What’s the outlook right now for upcoming third year grads without a job? I know it’s mostly speculative, but does anyone think they will find jobs in 6 months? 1 year?

I feel so bad for them. Also if there is potentially limited or no elective surgery for 12-18 months. What happens to the 1st and 2nd years?

What a disaster. The ABPM document is not encouraging.
 
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Utvolsdpm said:
What’s the outlook right now for upcoming third year grads without a job? I know it’s mostly speculative, but does anyone think they will find jobs in 6 months? 1 year?

I feel so bad for them. Also if there is potentially limited or no elective surgery for 12-18 months. What happens to the 1st and 2nd years?

What a disaster. The ABPM document is not encouraging.
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Messes up students bad too especially ones that are just starting clerkships.
 
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Utvolsdpm said:
What’s the outlook right now for upcoming third year grads without a job? I know it’s mostly speculative, but does anyone think they will find jobs in 6 months? 1 year?

I feel so bad for them. Also if there is potentially limited or no elective surgery for 12-18 months. What happens to the 1st and 2nd years?

What a disaster. The ABPM document is not encouraging.
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Good question. I just flipped through current available jobs online. Aside from the usual nursing home spam (HealthDrive, 360care, etc), there are about 12 current jobs advertised. Nine are private practices where you will be grossly underpaid and taken advantage of. Two look like good MSG/hospital gigs, and 1 is a hospital pus job but the pay is good. This is the current availability nationwide... for 600+ graduating residents...
 
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Pronation said:
Good question. I just flipped through current available jobs online. Aside from the usual nursing home spam (HealthDrive, 360care, etc), there are about 12 current jobs advertised. Nine are private practices where you will be grossly underpaid and taken advantage of. Two look like good MSG/hospital gigs, and 1 is a hospital pus job but the pay is good. This is the current availability nationwide... for 600+ graduating residents...
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I’ve heard some of those private practice places were initially looking but now are hurting so bad they aren’t really looking anymore. In local news around my area the one major hospital system made headlines today that their ceo stated they are losing $50 million a month due to cancelling elective procedures. It seems the effects are pretty widespread and may lead to some huge changes in health care. Hopefully someone on here can give encouraging news!
 
Pronation said:
This is the current availability nationwide... for 600+ graduating residents...
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there has never been 500-600 podiatry jobs advertised at one time. Even if you look at all of the potential job boards/posting locations (indeed, the acfas affiliate, apma classifieds, pmnews, state medical associations, etc.), there’s probably never more than 40-50 different jobs posted at a time. I would bet that a slight majority of podiatry jobs aren’t ever advertised. Current postings is not necessarily a good metric. Though I’m sure we are all in agreement that it’s rough out there compared to previous years.

Utvolsdpm said:
I’ve heard some of those private practice places were initially looking but now are hurting so bad they aren’t really looking anymore. In local news around my area the one major hospital system made headlines today that their ceo stated they are losing $50 million a month due to cancelling elective procedures. It seems the effects are pretty widespread and may lead to some huge changes in health care. Hopefully someone on here can give encouraging news!
Click to expand...
Since air bud owes me about $60k (lol no means testing huh?), I’ll go double or nothing. I bet that significantly more grads than usual are scrambling at the moment and can’t find employment. Anyone who had not signed their contract with a podiatry practice as of a few weeks ago, isn’t going to be signing one any time soon. For those who have, I would love to hear if the practice is trying to weasel out of the contract at the moment. C’mon folks, someone has to have some stories from current 3rd year residents. I’m booooored. Entertain us.
 
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Possibly 12-18 months no elective surgery and decreased office visits mentioned by ABPM?

You're gonna be looking at a lot of shut down medical practices, podiatry and otherwise. "Telehealth" and home visits ain't gonna cut it. Prove me wrong. Please. I want to be wrong.
 
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Thank god I didn’t buy a practice
 
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Carbon13 said:
Possibly 12-18 months no elective surgery and decreased office visits mentioned by ABPM?

You're gonna be looking at a lot of shut down medical practices, podiatry and otherwise. "Telehealth" and home visits ain't gonna cut it. Prove me wrong. Please. I want to be wrong.
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IHMO, I don't think it will be apocalyptic. Yes, we are going to be hurt financially, especially in these early weeks, but patients will eventually come in. There's only so much pain/discomfort a person will endure. People aren't going to stop having ingrown nails because they are under a "stay at home" order; ulcers aren't going to magically heal; people aren't going to become magically impervious to injury.

Maybe I am being too optimistic, but the last few days in my office (and the schedule ahead for the upcoming week) have been looking "alright". I'd say about 60% of normal volume.
 
dtrack22 said:
there has never been 500-600 podiatry jobs advertised at one time. Even if you look at all of the potential job boards/posting locations (indeed, the acfas affiliate, apma classifieds, pmnews, state medical associations, etc.), there’s probably never more than 40-50 different jobs posted at a time. I would bet that a slight majority of podiatry jobs aren’t ever advertised. Current postings is not necessarily a good metric. Though I’m sure we are all in agreement that it’s rough out there compared to previous years.


Since air bud owes me about $60k (lol no means testing huh?), I’ll go double or nothing. I bet that significantly more grads than usual are scrambling at the moment and can’t find employment. Anyone who had not signed their contract with a podiatry practice as of a few weeks ago, isn’t going to be signing one any time soon. For those who have, I would love to hear if the practice is trying to weasel out of the contract at the moment. C’mon folks, someone has to have some stories from current 3rd year residents. I’m booooored. Entertain us.
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Know of one grad who already got screwed over. He was offered a contract. The practice was working on the paperwork nothing had been signed, Covid-19 happened, offer was pulled.
 
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So far I've heard of multiple layoffs of new grads hired last summer that were still building their patient schedules, others with reduced hours+pay, and one office sending their new hirees/younger docs to the hospital to see their patients because the senior doctors are too afraid to go in.
 
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