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Flatfeet in Children – Cause for Concern?

Baltimore Foot Doctor, Baltimore Podiatrist, Comfortable Shoes, Healthy Feet , , , , , ,

An article by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons warns that Pediatric Flatfoot, a childhood condition can, if left untreated, result in permanent deformity in adulthood. Flatfoot deformity makes mobility and exercise painful, increasing the risk of reduced cardiovascular health and obesity.

All reasons why it is imperative for parents to keep a close eye on their childrens’ foot development – namely by having them visit a podiatrist at any sign of discomfort.

“Parents never want their child to undergo a surgical procedure,” says Mary Crawford, DPM, FACFAS, an Everett, Washington foot and ankle surgeon, “but uncorrected symptomatic flatfoot can lead to chronic pain and instability as the child ages into adulthood. Children will be on their feet for a long time to come. It’s vital to keep those feet healthy. A foot and ankle surgeon can help parents understand the options – surgical and non-surgical – for treating pediatric flatfoot.”

Not every child with pediatric flatfoot will display symptoms but many will complain of discomfort, tenderness or cramping in the foot, ankle or knee area.  It also makes participating in physical activities difficult, so parents should take note if the child is not participating in these activities with their friends.

So how do doctors diagnose pediatric flatfoot?  The DPM will evaluate the child’s foot in weight bearing and non-weight bearing positions, both in and out of shoes and will also note how the child walks and evaluates the foot’s range of motion.  For further detailed analysis, the physician may order imaging tests such as x-ray, a CT scan, MRI or bone scan.

So moral of the story – don’t mess around if your child appears to have symptoms of pediatric flatfoot as it could have direct, deleterious effects on their future health.

Source:
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

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Prom Season is Almost Upon Us! How to Choose the Right Shoes (for Your Foot Style & Health!)

Baltimore Foot Doctor, Baltimore Podiatrist, Comfortable Shoes, Healthy Feet , , , , , , ,

Get Your Feet Ready For Prom!
Choosing prom shoes for girls isn’t always easy and oftentimes critical factors such as comfort and fit are overlooked because you fall in love with a certain style or color, a decision that is frequently regretted about 30 minutes into the big night.  Our goal is to encourage you and your friends/family to make smart decisions from a health perspective while still keeping it stylish on Prom Night!

Comfort, Comfort, Comfort!
Comfort needs to be the number one thing you consider with these shoes.  Period.  You’re going to be spending a really long time standing, dancing, running, etc throughout the night and the last thing you need to worry about is discomfort on your feet.

Heels or No Heels?
Heels are obviously a very popular choice for prom but they should bring some consideration before you choose the wear them – do you wear them often?  Have you had issues with them before?  Have you spent long periods of time in them?  There’s no crime in not wearing heels because if you think you may have an issue, you probably will.  Wedges can be a good compromise between giant heels and the more comfortable flats – but just make sure you give it some honest thought!

Go Your Own Way!
Don’t worry about fitting in with what all the other girls are doing – go with your own style!  It’s very likely that you’ll be able to pick out what shoes most girls are going to wear so it wouldn’t be a crime to choose something completely different.  Sure you may get some weird looks from other (jealous) girls but at least you’ll be comfortable and doing your own thing!

Have any questions or comments about choosing the right Prom shoes?  Drop us a line at info@wetreatfeetpodiatry.com or 410-363-4343.

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Healthcare Hiring Continues to Increase

Baltimore Foot Doctor, Baltimore Podiatrist, Healthcare News, Healthcare Politics , , , , ,

According to Healthcare Finance News the healthcare industry has continued to grow, increasing by 23,400 positions last month.

The biggest growth area were in ambulatory healthcare settings and at hospitals specifically in home healthcare services, which added 6,800 jobs. Physician offices added 1,000 jobs, while outpatient care centers boosted employment by 3,200 jobs and overall, hospitals job positions rose by 7,900.

Nursing and residential care facilities also increased hiring in March, although at a much slower pace, adding 200 jobs.

Source:
Healthcare Finance News

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We Treat Feet Welcomes Karen Pearlstone RN to the Team!

Baltimore Foot Doctor, Baltimore Podiatrist, We Treat Feet Staff

We Treat Feet Podiatry would like to welcome Karen Pearlstone RN, BSN to it’s talented team of professionals!  A graduate of the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Studies, Karen relocated to Miami several years later where she attended nursing school and obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.

Drawn to the nursing field due to her strong desire to nurture others, she has joined our team as Surgical Coordinator and looks forward to getting to know both the staff and patients!

Have a question or comment?  Drop us a line!  You can email at info@wetreatfeetpodiatry.com or call 410-363-4343.

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Can Seeing Your Podiatrist Save You $10,000+? A Big Complicated Study Translated

Baltimore Foot Doctor , , , , ,

Seeing your podiatrist can save you tens of thousands of dollars in long-term medical costs and helps prevent many patients from having to undergo an amputation – these were the findings of a study performed by 9 PhDs and DPMs regarding the economic value of podiatry.  And while you probably could’ve guessed this already, thanks to the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association it’s all been confirmed by science!

“We found that patients who received care from a podiatric physician had significantly lower costs than did patients in the comparison group who did not receive care from a podiatrist during the year before their foot ulcer.”

You can check out a copy of the study by clicking here.

The difference between those who visited/did not visit a podiatrist at the onset of an injury and who had commercial medical plans was actually “$13,474 lower” and even “$3,624 lower…in Medicare”.  Talk about a solid investment in your health!

So I think the lesson we can all take away from this is – if you think you have a foot problem, see your podiatrist ASAP!!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our awesome staff at We Treat Feet Podiatry via email (info@wetreatfeetpodiatry.com) or 410-363-4343.

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Sequestration’s Impact on Podiatry?

Baltimore Foot Doctor, Top Content Area , , , ,

Let’s start with this – the Sequestration: What is It?

Sequestration is a legal term used to describe the act of a higher authority taking control of an asset — usually property or money — until a legal dispute is rectified, thus preventing destruction or loss of the asset until appropriate decisions regarding the asset have been made.

In this case, “the sequestration” refers to the Budget Control Act of 2011 which guaranteed that if the congress and president didn’t come to a consensus regarding measures for reducing the budget deficit, there would be across-the-board cuts meaning the treasury would freeze monies from almost every government program including the military and Medicare.

No consensus was met, so the sequestration went into effect on March 1.

So what type of impact will the Sequestration have on Podiatry?

Podiatry is often considered a specialty and as a result, even though a person’s feet are the foundation of their ability to remain independently mobile, people with foot ailments rarely make their feet their highest priority if they don’t have unlimited funds.  This will come into play when medical coverage is thinned and is part of the key in determining the impact the sequestration will have on podiatrists.

While the impact the sequestration will have on podiatry can in part be formulated by evaluation of the language in the Budget Control Act, the effect is still largely a product of human behavior and decisions.

Predicting the impact is speculation, but the following is known:

1) March 1st the act went into effect and all Medicare payouts must be in compliance by April 1st.  Fewer patients may seek specialty care.

2) There will be a 2% (max) cut in reimbursements for DPMs from Medicare payouts.

3) As of yet, there is no set date for a congressional review of the sequestration. In other words, this could be permanent.

The simple (though speculative) answer:

The impact the sequestration will have on podiatrists is a reduction in reimbursement from Medicare patient as well as potentially fewer patients as public concerns about their own medical coverage loom.

 

If you have any other questions or wish to schedule an appointment, contact We Treat Feet Podiatry by clicking here to view our various locations and phone numbers!

We Treat Feet! That’s what we do. From the simplest nail problems, to the most complex foot deformities, we provide exceptional care in a kind and compassionate manner. We offer board certified physicians that have spent years learning the intricate structures and functions of the human foot and ankle. No knees or elbows here, only the best foot and ankle care available in Maryland.

From heel pain, bunions, Sports medicine injuries, broken bones, neuromas, hammertoes, and flatfeet to Achilles tendon problems, we have the most modern technology available to help you, including digital x-ray, diagnostic ultrasound, and vascular testing equipment.

Our physician team offers treatments for people of all ages, from infants to seniors. No foot is too big, no problem is too big, because remember, We Treat Feet!

You can check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

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Dr. Mikel Daniels

Baltimore Foot Doctor, Podiatrist Profile

Dr. Daniels offers the latest techniques in foot and ankle surgery, including postoperative pain buster pumps, minimally invasive foot surgery, and the removal of painful skin lesions (corns and calluses).

Education and Experience: Dr. Daniels is a board certified foot surgeon, a distinction he received from the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, and a graduate of both Muhlenberg College and the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. He is also a member of several specialty organizations, including:

•      The American Podiatric Medical Association

•      The Maryland Podiatric Medical Association

•      The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

Dr. Daniels has also served as a consultant for multiple biomedical companies and instrument/equipment manufactures and is on the speakers panel for companies such as Pfizer for Lyrica, New Deal/Integra for the MBA Subtalar implant, and Merete Medical for the Metafix locking plate system.

[youtube_sc url=TRbVzRniT2I width=650]

 

Home Life: Dr. Daniels is happily married to his wife Melissa and the couple has 2 sons, Elliot and Ethan.

 

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If you have any other questions or wish to schedule an appointment, contact We Treat Feet Podiatry by clicking here to view our various locations and phone numbers!

We Treat Feet! That’s what we do. From the simplest nail problems, to the most complex foot deformities, we provide exceptional care in a kind and compassionate manner. We offer board certified physicians that have spent years learning the intricate structures and functions of the human foot and ankle. No knees or elbows here, only the best foot and ankle care available in Maryland.

From heel pain, bunions, Sports medicine injuries, broken bones, neuromas, hammertoes, and flatfeet to Achilles tendon problems, we have the most modern technology available to help you, including digital x-ray, diagnostic ultrasound, and vascular testing equipment.

Our physician team offers treatments for people of all ages, from infants to seniors. No foot is too big, no problem is too big, because remember, We Treat Feet!

You can check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Sources:

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Dr. Francisco Pizarro

Baltimore Foot Doctor, Podiatrist Profile

Dr. Pizarro graduated from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine in 2003. He went on to do his surgical residency at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. During residency Dr. Pizarro developed a strong interest in the treatment of complex diabetic wounds. A native of the New York Metro area, Dr. Pizarro practiced in Queens and Brooklyn, NY for over 5 years.

Check out this short video featuring Dr. Pizarro at one of We Treat Feet’s locally sponsored events!

[youtube_sc url=KF7rr8hZEWo width=650]

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Dr. Dee McCrary III

Baltimore Foot Doctor, Podiatrist Profile

Dr. McCrary specializes in both arthroscopic and open management of forefoot pathologies, complex rear foot and ankle pathologies, and reconstructive surgery. He also has extensive experience managing diabetic wounds and foot infections.

Podiatric Education and Experience: Dr. McCrary received his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Then, Dr. McCrary completed an intensive three-year podiatric surgical residency through the Kaiser Permanente North Bay Consortium in Vallejo, CA, outside San Francisco.

[youtube_sc url=90W2nRT7Nn4 width=650]

Home Life: Currently living in Baltimore, Maryland, Dr. McCrary is an avid runner who has completed both the Dallas White Rock and Philadelphia marathons. He now has his sights set on the Baltimore Running Festival.

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If you have any other questions or wish to schedule an appointment, contact We Treat Feet Podiatry by clicking here to view our various locations and phone numbers!

We Treat Feet! That’s what we do. From the simplest nail problems, to the most complex foot deformities, we provide exceptional care in a kind and compassionate manner. We offer board certified physicians that have spent years learning the intricate structures and functions of the human foot and ankle. No knees or elbows here, only the best foot and ankle care available in Maryland.

From heel pain, bunions, Sports medicine injuries, broken bones, neuromas, hammertoes, and flatfeet to Achilles tendon problems, we have the most modern technology available to help you, including digital x-ray, diagnostic ultrasound, and vascular testing equipment.

Our physician team offers treatments for people of all ages, from infants to seniors. No foot is too big, no problem is too big, because remember, We Treat Feet!

You can check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

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