CLINICAL EVENTS CALENDAR
- Sep 10,2010Sep 12,2010Podiatry Institute Current Trends in Foot and Ankle Surgery09/10/2010 - 00:0009/12/2010 - 00:00
Sheraton Overland Park Hotel
Overland Park, KS - Sep 23,2010Sep 25,2010SAWC Fall (Symposium on Advanced Wound Care)09/23/2010 - 00:0009/25/2010 - 00:00website:
Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, CA - Sep 23,2010Sep 25,2010Northwest Podiatric Foundation 16th Annual Las Vegas Seminar09/23/2010 - 00:0009/25/2010 - 00:00
Wynn Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV - Oct 14,2010Oct 16,2010Diabetic Limb Salvage 201010/14/2010 - 00:0010/16/2010 - 00:00website:
JW Marriott
Washington, DC
Non-Accredited Education
Managing the Diabetic Foot: A Clinical and Economic View Complimentary Archived Webcast
Non-Accredited
Understanding Collagen Dressings and their Benefit in Wound Care![]()
Complimentary Archived Webcast
non-accredited
Letters
Making Room For Nerve Decompression In The Diabetic Limb Salvage Armamentarium
I read with interest the recent article on diabetic limb salvage (“How To Form A Diabetic Limb Salvage Team” in the June 2010 issue). Over the last 14 years, I have been significantly involved with wound care and limb salvage in the diabetic patient population. In 1998, I was asked to join the staff of a multidisciplinary wound center associated with two local hospitals as a podiatric surgeon and wound specialist.
Addressing Skin Tension With Biopsies
I would like to applaud Tracey Vlahovic, DPM, for her article entitled “A Guide to Biopsy Techniques for Skin Neoplasms” (see page 50–56 in the May issue of Podiatry Today). Any information that turns attention to the skin biopsy in podiatric literature is sorely needed.
Debating The Merits Of The EPF Procedure
It was with great incredulity that I read the article by Dr. Barrett entitled “A Closer Look At Endoscopic Plantar Fasciotomy” (see the May issue, pg. 38). He writes: “Prior to the development of endoscopic foot surgery, there was a strong desire not only to find a better, less invasive method to treat … plantar fasciitis surgically … Indeed, the standard of care … has changed radically since the … EPF.”
The inference here, of course, is that after EPF, that desire has been fulfilled and it is now the standard of care. The truth is that in the facilities where I perform surger
Weighing In On The Evidenced-Based Medicine Debate
I have just finished reading the article, “EBM: Can It Be A Reality In Practice?” (see page 38 in the May issue).
I acknowledge and understand the viewpoints presented in the article.
However, if we all waited for articles to be peer reviewed before trying a new treatment, how would this help patients currently? When a new technology or modality appears, and it is presented in a journal that is not peer reviewed, should we be skeptical of using the modality on our patients?
Someone has to take the initiative to try the new product and report back to
Sharing Insights On The PSSD
In regard to the article “Restoring Sensation In Diabetic Patients” (see pg. 38, September issue) and the editorial (see “PSSD: Assessing Its Value And Potential,” pg. 12, September issue), we have been using the Pressure Specified Sensory Device (PSSD) at the University of Texas since March of 2001. We have been pleasantly surprised with the results of the testing. It has been beneficial in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients with nerve symptoms.
The strength of the device is it allows you to look critically at the severity of nerve damage and allows earlier, more sensitive de
Defining The APMA's Position On HIPAA
I read with great interest your recent editorial regarding HIPAA (see “Ready Or Not, Here Comes HIPAA,” page 14, April issue). As Vice-President of the APMA and Chair of the Health Policy Committee, I have direct oversight of these activities. We fully agree with the need for education regarding HIPAA and implementation of the final guidelines.
The APMA is producing a HIPAA Compliance Manual that will be free to APMA members. However, after the March release of revisions to the proposed rule and final standards, we decided to delay production of the manual until 60 days after the final r
A Closer Look At Federal Funding For Residencies
I am writing to you regarding some misinformation that is contained within the editorial section of the August 2003 issue (see “Editor’s Perspective,” page 18, August issue). I am a residency director and consider myself fairly conversant with current residency reimbursement issues, that is to say how residency programs in general and podiatric residencies in particular are reimbursed from the federal government.
For too long, the popular myth has been that residencies, in general, “make” hospitals money. It may be true that the presence of a residency may well encourage the medical
Another View Of Podiatric Residency Funding
In regard to last month’s “Letters” section (see “A Closer Look At Federal Funding For Residencies,” page 14, November), teaching hospitals that have intern and residency training programs and that also treat Medicare patients are currently being reimbursed by the Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services (CMS) for direct and indirect expenses.
The direct expenses would cover such financial items as intern/resident salaries, health insurance, meals, malpractice insurance and educational expenses. This is usually the smaller of the amounts received by the hospital administration. Th
Raising Questions About ESWT In Heel Pain Article
First, I’d like to say that the article on adult-acquired flatfoot (AAF) was insightful and thorough (see the cover story “A New Approach To Adult-Acquired Flatfoot,” pg. 32, May issue). It is now my reference on AAF. However, I found that the heel pain article left questions unanswered (see “Conquering Conservative Care For Heel Pain,” pg. 48, May issue). I wonder why James Losito, DPM, offered his comments on Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) while having very limited knowledge of ESWT.
Out of the three methods of generating shockwave, Dr. Losito only describes one. By his
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