High-risk diabetic patients are those with a significantly increased likelihood of developing complications such as foot ulcers, infections, or amputations if not closely monitored and managed. These patients may present with:

• Neuropathy
• Peripheral artery disease
• Foot deformities
• History of ulcers or amputation
• Multiple co-morbidities that complicate podiatric treatment

Managing these patients is one of the most liability-sensitive areas of podiatry. It’s essential to provide comprehensive care to improve outcomes and reduce professional liability risk.

In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, many physicians are seeking ways to grow their practices without compromising the quality of care. Scaling a medical practice involves more than simply seeing more patients - it requires strategic expansion of operations, staffing, technology, and patient engagement systems. When done correctly, it can increase profitability, improve efficiency, and enhance patient satisfaction. Below are steps you can take to scale your practice.

When it comes to today's healthcare environment, cyber security breaches are an ongoing concern for providers and their practices. From phishing emails to ransomware attacks, healthcare organizations are frequent targets due to the high value of patient data and the complexity of medical systems.

As more podiatric physicians incorporate Durable Medical Equipment (DME) into their practices – from custom orthotics to diabetic footwear – understanding the regulatory and credentialing landscape has become increasingly important. One key requirement that’s often overlooked until it delays or derails your DME program is proof of Comprehensive General Liability (CGL) insurance.

As a podiatric medical physician, you have medical malpractice insurance to help protect you from claims related to patient care. While this coverage is essential, there are additional risks to consider. Coverages like a business owner’s policy (BOP) and workers’ compensation insurance can help provide an added layer of protection for your practice.

Nearly everyone texts to communicate. It’s quick, easy, and convenient. However, texting with patients carries professional, legal, and ethical risks, including:

1. Privacy and HIPAA compliance. Standard texting is not secure. Messages can be intercepted, viewed on shared devices, or accidentally sent to the wrong number. Therefore, any patient’s personal health information sent via text risks a HIPAA violation and possible fines.

Professional boundaries are the ethical, legal, and relational limits that define the interactions between healthcare professionals and their patients. They protect the therapeutic relationship by ensuring that it remains focused on the patient’s health, safety, and well-being. Maintaining these boundaries is crucial for fostering trust, preserving professional integrity, and avoiding conflicts of interest.

Patients recording, either audio or video, their encounters with healthcare providers has become increasingly common. While healthcare providers may be alarmed when a patient asks to record their visit, it is not necessarily a bad thing. Recording patient encounters has both risks and benefits.

Staff turnover places a significant strain on an office's finances and resources. It increases expenses related to recruiting, hiring, and training new employees, along with the cost of covering temporary staffing needs. Productivity often declines as attention is diverted to focus on the hiring and onboarding process. Additionally, turnover can negatively impact staff morale, especially when the remaining employees must take on extra responsibilities to compensate for vacant roles.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed significant reforms to the Medicare Part B payment methodology for skin substitute products. If adopted, the proposed changes¹ would significantly decrease the reimbursement rate for such services.