Just curious. If there are any practicing podiatrists here, can podiatrists perform surgeries related to blood flow as in the common "blood pooling" problem of elder women, in particular. "deep vein thrombosis" its called. Also, is research a prominant field here? thanks !
The "scope" of a podiatrist
- Thread starter JMAT
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D
Dr_Feelgood
JMAT said:
Yes and yes. While a lot of pods send their patients to the hospital if they suspect a DVT, you have that legal right to write a sript. I wouldn't suggest it b/c if the thrombus busts loose in your office you'll sit there and pray the bus gets there before they die of a PE.
Vascular surgery is an area that pods work closely together w/ vascular surgeons. Usually you leave the final calls to the vascular surgeon, but you will manage the disease. Personally, I'm okay w/ letting them be the shot caller. I would expect that if they had a patient w/ a calcaneal fracture or a talar dome fracture that they would let the foot expert do his/her job. So we should let the vascular guy/girl do his/her job. Of course, that is my 2 cents.
Research is very prominent. Most of the big names in podiatry are big in the area of research. Armstrong, Harvey, (the dearly departed) Yu, Frykberg, Williamson, Vest, Anderson, King, Haffner, Greenhagen. All big names and all have made contributions in the area of podiatric research.
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JMAT said:
Yes, we deal with DVT and more particularly prophylaxing against DVT in surgery but the more common blood flow problem we deal with are venous stasis and venous stasis ulcerations, as well as ischemia induced ulcerations. In these cases, vascular surgeons will be your best friend!
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Dr_Feelgood said:
YES!!!
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research is probably the main reason why our profession is gaining strides in the past decade...residency directors and externships all look for research experience and the schools push you to do research as soon as possible...
the scope of a DPM is certainly not, however, to treat a hand infection. Am I right? because a DPM recently treated a hand infection in an unsuspecting family member of mine who thought this person was a physician (MD) - and gave her the wrong antibiotics and made it worse.
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VFTW said:
Definitely out of scope. However, depending on the state, their may be some old chiropody laws still on the books. Back in the day (more so in Britain), chiropodists treated both the hand and foot. So maybe it's not out of scope!!!!!!!
(ya right)
D
Dr_Feelgood
Alaska still has the hand in the scope of practice.
Two things that upset me here. One, this lady giving pods a bad name. Two, that someone has to be hurt before this nation will declare a universal scope of practice.
Here is the exact wording on the law in Alaska:
ALASKA STATUTES
TITLE 8. BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS
CHAPTER 64. MEDICINE
ARTICLE 4. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Updated through the 21st Legislature (1999-2000)
§ 08.64.380 Definitions.
In this chapter,
(7) "practice of podiatry" means the medical, mechanical, and surgical treatment of ailments of the foot, the muscles and tendons of the leg governing the functions of the foot, and superficial lesions of the hand other than those associated with trauma; the use of preparations, medicines, and drugs as are necessary for the treatment of these ailments; the treatment of the local manifestations of systemic diseases as they appear in the hand and foot, except that
(A) a patient shall be concurrently referred to a physician or osteopath for the treatment of the systemic disease itself;
(B) general anaesthetics may be used only in colleges of podiatry approved by the State Medical Board and in hospitals approved by the joint commission on the accreditation of hospitals, or the American Osteopathic Association; and
(C) the use of X-ray or radium for therapeutic purposes is not permitted.
Two things that upset me here. One, this lady giving pods a bad name. Two, that someone has to be hurt before this nation will declare a universal scope of practice.
Here is the exact wording on the law in Alaska:
ALASKA STATUTES
TITLE 8. BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS
CHAPTER 64. MEDICINE
ARTICLE 4. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Updated through the 21st Legislature (1999-2000)
§ 08.64.380 Definitions.
In this chapter,
(7) "practice of podiatry" means the medical, mechanical, and surgical treatment of ailments of the foot, the muscles and tendons of the leg governing the functions of the foot, and superficial lesions of the hand other than those associated with trauma; the use of preparations, medicines, and drugs as are necessary for the treatment of these ailments; the treatment of the local manifestations of systemic diseases as they appear in the hand and foot, except that
(A) a patient shall be concurrently referred to a physician or osteopath for the treatment of the systemic disease itself;
(B) general anaesthetics may be used only in colleges of podiatry approved by the State Medical Board and in hospitals approved by the joint commission on the accreditation of hospitals, or the American Osteopathic Association; and
(C) the use of X-ray or radium for therapeutic purposes is not permitted.
