IMPORTANT DO’S AND DON’TS TO AVOID A SUMMER “FLIP-FLOP FIASCO”

Recommended Products from the American Podiatric Medical Association

Bethesda, MD – The heat of summer is rapidly approaching, and feet everywhere are happily stepping out into warm, sunny weather. Flip-flops, a summer clothing staple for many, have again walked their way off of the beach and into our day-to-day lives. However, opting for the wrong pair of this carefree kind of footwear can lead to blisters, tendinitis and other foot problems. The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) urges consumers to think before buying to avoid falling victim to a “flip-flop fiasco.”

“Just because a flip-flop has a fun look does not mean it is healthy for your feet,” said APMA President and podiatrist Dr. Kathleen Stone. “As a general rule, most flip-flops on the market should not be worn excessively during the day. Wearing them in moderation is key.”

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AMERICAN PODIATRIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION CORRECTS PRESIDENT’S MISSTATEMENT ON FOOT AMPUTATION COSTS
Price of Diabetes Prevention Far Less Expensive than Billions Spent in Complication Treatment

Bethesda, MD – The cost of doctors performing lower-limb amputations for people with diabetes has been misconstrued during recent health care reform discussions, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), the nation's leading professional organization of doctors of podiatric medicine (DPMs), also known as podiatrists.

According to a study published in 2007 in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association (JAPMA), the overall estimated cost of a lower-leg amputation can range from $30,000 to $40,000, which includes fees for hospital stays, medical specialists, post operative care and physician reimbursement. While making a case for health care reform last week, President Barack Obama inaccurately attributed that cost solely to physician reimbursement. The actual physician reimbursement fee for a leg or foot amputation on average is far less, and according to Medicare ranges from nearly $750 to close to $1,000. The JAPMA article cites the actual physician reimbursement for the amputation is a small fraction of the projected $12 billion price tag paid by the nation’s health care system to cover overall costs of treating lower-leg amputations annually.

“When a patient’s foot or leg has to be amputated, it usually means all other treatment options have been exhausted,” said APMA President Ronald D. Jensen, DPM. “Nothing is more devastating than performing an amputation, knowing that perhaps it could have been prevented.”

Studies have shown that as many as 85 percent of non-traumatic, diabetic leg and foot amputations could have been prevented with early detection and treatment.  Podiatrists are an integral part of a diabetes management team, and regular preventive foot and ankle care by podiatrists for people with and at risk for the disease translates into fewer amputations.

APMA has been an active partner in the health reform process, seeking to safeguard the critical role of podiatrists in the prevention of such complications as foot amputations. It is important that beneficiaries of any health plan – including Medicaid and any new health plan – have access to the medical care provided by its members who so effectively keep Americans walking.

For more information about diabetic amputation prevention or to find a podiatrist in your area, visit www.apma.org.