In Home Podiatry and Wound Care FAQs

What is a Podiatrist?

A podiatrist, also called a doctor of podiatric medicine, is a specialist who provides medical diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle problems, including, but not limited to sprains and fractures, bunions, heel pain/spurs, hammertoes, neuromas, ingrown toenails, warts, corns and calluses. A podiatrist also renders care of sprains, fractures, infections, and injuries of the foot, ankle and heel.

Why do I need podiatry care?

The average person takes approximately 10,000 steps each day on every conceivable type of surface and incline. This level of wear and tear can lead to mal-alignment of the bones and joints of the feet. The discomfort associated with these mal-alignments is responsible for to 80- 90% of the foot ailments. Podiatry care includes recommendations for proper shoe selection, advice on effective home care, fitting orthopedic devices, gait and shoe balancing, and measuring and fitting of orthotics and arch supports. All of these are designed to compensate for weaknesses due to malformation and injuries.

When to call a Podiatrist?

• You have persistent pain in your feet or ankles.
• You have noticeable change to your nails or skin.
• Your feet are severely cracking, scaling, or peeling.
• There are blisters on your feet.
• There are signs of bacterial infection, including:
  • Increased pain, swelling, redness, tenderness, or heat.
  • Red streaks extending from the affected area.
  • Discharge of pus.
• Fever of 100°F (37.78°C) or higher with no other cause.
• Symptoms that do not improve after two weeks of treatment with a non-prescription product.
• Spreading of the infection to other areas, such as the nail bed, or skin under the nail, the nail itself, or the surrounding skin.
• Your toenail is getting thicker and causing you discomfort.
• You have heel pain accompanied by a fever, redness (sometimes warmth) or numbness or tingling in your heel, or persistent pain without putting any weight or pressure on your heel, or the pain is not alleviated by ice, aspirin, (or ibuprofen or acetaminophen).
• You have diabetes or certain diseases associated with poor circulation and you develop athlete’s foot. People with diabetes are at increased risk for a severe bacterial infection of the foot and leg if they have athlete’s foot.

What are the benefits of in home podiatry?

• In home patient care where the Podiatry clinic comes to you
• Board-certified Podiatric physician specialist
• Face-to-face visits and follow-up with recommendations for safe and effective treatment
• State-of-the-art diagnostic equipment

Who pays for the podiatry services?

Foot and ankle services provided by podiatrists are usually covered by health insurance plans and most podiatrists participate in private and public health insurance plans. However, not all podiatrists accept all insurance plans. To find out if your health insurance plan is accepted, contact the podiatrist’s office in advance. Also, check with your health insurance company regarding the foot and ankle services covered under your plan.

What should I expect on my first in home visit?

Our visiting podiatrist will contact the patient prior to any in home visit. A licensed in home podiatrist will provide on-site podiatric services and perform examinations as needed to assess the overall condition of your feet. The podiatrist will identify potential problems and, when medically necessary, treat the condition or coordinate care with the attending physician.