Treating Inpatients

[DPMer]

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When a board certified podiatrist is treating urgent and emergent foot and ankle cases in the hospital wards and in the ER, is that podiatrist making good money for his income compared to treating non urgent non emergent cases of outpatients in a privately owned solo or group clinic? If the clinic is owned by the hospital, does the board certified podiatrist get paid just the same by insurance for outpatient cases as board certified podiatrists in a privately owned clinic? And I am talking only about medical care of the foot and ankle, no surgery.

 

[PADPM]

When a board certified podiatrist is treating urgent and emergent foot and ankle cases in the hospital wards and in the ER, is that podiatrist making good money for his income compared to treating non urgent non emergent cases of outpatients in a privately owned solo or group clinic? If the clinic is owned by the hospital, does the board certified podiatrist get paid just the same by insurance for outpatient cases as board certified podiatrists in a privately owned clinic? And I am talking only about medical care of the foot and ankle, no surgery.

Let me preface this by stating that I am "board certified" but question why you kept repeating that term in your post. You don't receive increased reimbursement for being board certified, in case that was a misconception.

Your question has no real answer. You get reimbursed according to the amount of work/type of work you provided and most importantly the type of insurance the patient has or doesn't have. Whether you own the facility or not, your reimbursement for the procedure remains basically the same (yes I know that some carriers reimburse differently for office due to increased overhead). However, if you own a facility, you may be able to also to make money on the "back end" by billing for the technical component, meaning supplies, use of the actual facility (such as O.R.), etc., but you excluded surgery in your comment.

So, the amount you receive, regardless of the location of the work being performed is more dependent on the TYPE of work you are performing and MOST dependent on the type of insurance the patient has or doesn't have in many cases. And board certification will not impact that reimbursement.

 

[DPMer]

Let me preface this by stating that I am "board certified" but question why you kept repeating that term in your post. You don't receive increased reimbursement for being board certified, in case that was a misconception.

Your question has no real answer. You get reimbursed according to the amount of work/type of work you provided and most importantly the type of insurance the patient has or doesn't have. Whether you own the facility or not, your reimbursement for the procedure remains basically the same (yes I know that some carriers reimburse differently for office due to increased overhead). However, if you own a facility, you may be able to also to make money on the "back end" by billing for the technical component, meaning supplies, use of the actual facility (such as O.R.), etc., but you excluded surgery in your comment.

So, the amount you receive, regardless of the location of the work being performed is more dependent on the TYPE of work you are performing and MOST dependent on the type of insurance the patient has or doesn't have in many cases. And board certification will not impact that reimbursement.

Thank you PADPM. So what are other main purposes for being "board certified" for podiatrists and for any physician in general besides getting hospital priveleges, being hired by an employer, and being accepted as a provider in some insurance carriers? Is this "board certification" going to be mandatory among physicians in the near or distant future? Are there podiatrists and other physicians you know of who are doing well without being board certified in terms of both excellent patient care and excellent income?

 

[Podfather]

Thank you PADPM. So what are other main purposes for being "board certified" for podiatrists and for any physician in general besides getting hospital priveleges, being hired by an employer, and being accepted as a provider in some insurance carriers? Is this "board certification" going to be mandatory among physicians in the near or distant future? Are there podiatrists and other physicians you know of who are doing well without being board certified in terms of both excellent patient care and excellent income?

Almost all hospitals require board certification within 5 years of being admitted to their staff and many insurers require it as well. Is it mandatory? No, but practicing is harder without it. For many it is a title they perceive as a demonstration of their competance in caring for patients. The requirements for certification shows the public that a certain level of experience,credentialed cases, and tested knowledge exists in the boarded doctor. Does it ensure excellence? Of course not but it is a standard that can be documented. Most non-boarded doctors I know had difficulties with the credentialing process or the exam but a few choose not to be boarded for philosophical or financial reasons.

 

[PADPM]

Thank you PADPM. So what are other main purposes for being "board certified" for podiatrists and for any physician in general besides getting hospital priveleges, being hired by an employer, and being accepted as a provider in some insurance carriers? Is this "board certification" going to be mandatory among physicians in the near or distant future? Are there podiatrists and other physicians you know of who are doing well without being board certified in terms of both excellent patient care and excellent income?

I agree completely with Podfather's response. For M.D.'s, the only "recognized" boards have always been boards that were approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties. For DPM's, the officially recognized boards have traditionally been those recognized by the American Podiatric Medical Association. The only surgical board they recognize is the American Board of Podiatric Surgery.

I am certified by that board and so is Podfather, and as our prior posts, we have both had involvement with this board. In my opinion, it is the gold standard for surgical boards in our profession, though other surgical boards have evolved. In MY opinion, the genesis of these other surgical boards has been due to the fact that many of those taking these "new" boards were not able to meet the requirements of the ABPS or simply had difficulty passing the examination. But that's a whole different political discussion.

 

[DPMer]

Thank you PADPM and Podfather. So for podiatrists, for now, the APMA approved board certifications are ABPS and ABPOPPM right? After you are board certified with ABPS and/or ABPOPPM, then you can earn the title of "FACFAS" and/or "FACFOAM" if you choose? Is it worth having FACFAS and/or FACFOAM after your DPM title after achieving board certification in both of your opinions, or just have the title "Diplomate" only? Obviously, either way (Diplomate or Fellow) it sounds like ALOT of hard work (i.e. written and oral exams and patient cases) after podiatry residency (which is hard enough sacrifice of time and effort already of learning!). And I see a trend of podiatrists being fellows of either APWCA (wound care) or IDSA (Infectious Diseases) with the title "FAPWCA" or "FIDSA" after the "DPM" title. I wonder have you both seen podiatrists with either of these titles after their "DPM" title?:
a) FACFAS, FACFOAM
b) FACFAS only
c) FACFOAM only
d) FAPWCA only
e) FIDSA only
f) FIDSA, FAPWCA
or even this one:
g) FACFAS, FACFOAM, FAPWCA, FIDSA (this seems to be the best ultimate podiatrist ever!) Sounds like alot of oral and written exams to take big time! WOW!

 

[PADPM]

g) FACFAS, FACFOAM, FAPWCA, FIDSA (this seems to be the best ultimate podiatrist ever!)

I know that you said this tonque-in-cheek, but please don't ever believe that initials following a name automatically will equate that doctor with being the best or ultimate DPM. Being the best takes a lot more than the ability to pass exams.

 

[Podfather]

Thank you PADPM and Podfather. So for podiatrists, for now, the APMA approved board certifications are ABPS and ABPOPPM right? After you are board certified with ABPS and/or ABPOPPM, then you can earn the title of "FACFAS" and/or "FACFOAM" if you choose? Is it worth having FACFAS and/or FACFOAM after your DPM title after achieving board certification in both of your opinions, or just have the title "Diplomate" only? Obviously, either way (Diplomate or Fellow) it sounds like ALOT of hard work (i.e. written and oral exams and patient cases) after podiatry residency (which is hard enough sacrifice of time and effort already of learning!). And I see a trend of podiatrists being fellows of either APWCA (wound care) or IDSA (Infectious Diseases) with the title "FAPWCA" or "FIDSA" after the "DPM" title. I wonder have you both seen podiatrists with either of these titles after their "DPM" title?:
a) FACFAS, FACFOAM
b) FACFAS only
c) FACFOAM only
d) FAPWCA only
e) FIDSA only
f) FIDSA, FAPWCA
or even this one:
g) FACFAS, FACFOAM, FAPWCA, FIDSA (this seems to be the best ultimate podiatrist ever!) Sounds like alot of oral and written exams to take big time! WOW!

For FACFAS and FACFOAM there are no examinations.

 

[PADPM]

For FACFAS and FACFOAM there are no examinations.

I'm not sure that DPM'er understands that fact (and I didn't make it clear in my post where I stated that you should not to be impressed by the initials following someone's name).

DPM'er doesn't understand that you can only become a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons or of the ACFOAM AFTER you have become board certified by the ABPS or ABPOPPM, which do require examinations, cases, etc.

 

[Feli]

Thank you PADPM and Podfather. So for podiatrists, for now, the APMA approved board certifications are ABPS and ABPOPPM right? After you are board certified with ABPS and/or ABPOPPM, then you can earn the title of "FACFAS" and/or "FACFOAM" if you choose? Is it worth having FACFAS and/or FACFOAM after your DPM title after achieving board certification in both of your opinions, or just have the title "Diplomate" only? Obviously, either way (Diplomate or Fellow) it sounds like ALOT of hard work (i.e. written and oral exams and patient cases) after podiatry residency (which is hard enough sacrifice of time and effort already of learning!). And I see a trend of podiatrists being fellows of either APWCA (wound care) or IDSA (Infectious Diseases) with the title "FAPWCA" or "FIDSA" after the "DPM" title. I wonder have you both seen podiatrists with either of these titles after their "DPM" title?:
a) FACFAS, FACFOAM
b) FACFAS only
c) FACFOAM only
d) FAPWCA only
e) FIDSA only
f) FIDSA, FAPWCA
or even this one:
g) FACFAS, FACFOAM, FAPWCA, FIDSA (this seems to be the best ultimate podiatrist ever!) Sounds like alot of oral and written exams to take big time! WOW!

Me thinks you might stand 4ft 11in tall?^^

...ABPS is the only board that really matters, IMO. The ABPOPPM is also recognized by the APMA, but it honestly won't get you any surg privileges or anything of real value (surgically).

...When you are ABPS qual, you can be AACFAS, and when you get cert, you can be FACFAS. Those aren't boards, though, they're membership in a professional, educational college.