Its funny - I actually read this in in a different manner. I wondered if this was a pre-pod who was seeing things that are "more" than they expect and wondering if somehow podiatry is a path to something outside the foot. Historically, prepods on SDN lock into small things that have almost no relevance in the day to day lives of most podiatrists and some how decide these things will open the door to being something we're not. People used to ask if they could use their DPM degree to become a hospitalist.
The Utah thing is interesting. A year or 2(?) ago I read an article describing a state - presumably Utah based on the above - where podiatry had through consensus with decision makers / state reps worked out a scope change to allow them to perform wound care throughout the body. The article praised everyone involved basically saying they'd found a way to work with other specialties and state reps to pass legislation without a battle. It was put forward as a path for scope change in other states. To be fair though - Utah isn't like other states.
The hand thing has been in certain state scopes for years. My suspicion is this allowed people to clip fingernails. If the thread lasts long enough Dr. Rodgers will write an explanation on how credentialing and privileging works and explain that you can't do hand surgery at a hospital just because the state scope uses the word.
Surgical assists at best get a 16% reimbursement.
Georgia or someone used to list "leg". Maybe it was Florida. In most states podiatrists can already operate on the leg as long as the issue they are treating manifests in the foot.
I refer you to the above concerning knees and hips - you are reaching for something that isn't going to be part of your training or scope or practice. The simple truth is most podiatrists don't do enough rearfoot or ankle work. Telling yourself this is a path to the hip, knee, or hand is just absurd.
