When choosing a podiatrist for your foot care, you should take many things into consideration. There are many things you should know before finalizing who will be your podiatrist. Here are 10 things you should ask when consulting with a podiatrist for the first time.
1. Do You Have On-Site Diagnostic Equipment?
A podiatry practice with on-site diagnostics is very convenient. If your podiatrist recommends you get image-guided tests and does not offer this service on-site, it will be an inconvenience for you to travel to another facility to get it done. On-site diagnostic services can eliminate this complication and get you a diagnosis faster.
2. What Is Your Experience Level?
An experienced podiatrist will get you accurate diagnoses and effective treatments faster and more often than an inexperienced one. As such, when visiting a podiatrist for the first time, as how many years of experience they have practicing. Choose a podiatry practice that’s been active for many years so that you receive the highest quality care and treatment.
3. Are You Board-Certified?
Board-certification means a podiatrist follows a set standard while practicing and has the knowledge and training deemed necessary for quality medical care by a group of experts in the field. Board-certification is a seal of approval from the best in the medical field, and you should always see medical professionals who have been board-certified.
4. Do You Provide Diabetic Foot Care?
Diabetics need to take extra good care of their feet. Should you find out that you have peripheral nerve damage from diabetes, a podiatrist that provides diabetic foot care can help prevent infection and save you from unfortunate situations that could lead to amputation.
5. What Treatment Plans Do You Offer?
Treatments should vary from patient to patient, because no two patients are the same. As such, choose a podiatrist who doesn’t offer cookie-cutter treatments and products. Make sure the podiatrist also offers a variety of treatments, not just a few popular ones. Foot and ankle treatments should include the use of custom orthotics, pain management, and physical therapy.
6. What In-Office Procedures Do You Perform?
A podiatrist that performs in-office procedures can administer treatments immediately instead of having you go to another facility. Examples of procedures that a podiatrist should be able to perform in-house include callus trimming, wound care, foreign body removal, cortisone injections for pain relief, and ganglion cyst drainage.
7. How Quickly Can You See Patients?
When you experience pain or an injury to the foot, it can bring your life to a screeching halt. As such, getting treatment quickly is paramount. Your podiatrist should be able to accommodate last minute and emergency situations with ease. The last thing you want is to wait days or weeks to be seen for a foot injury.
8. Do You Treat Athletic and Sports Injuries?
Podiatrists with sports medicine training are equipped to deal with specific issues and injuries related to physically active people. This enables them to advise you on proper foot care before, during, and after physical activities and sports – which is different than that of people who live sedentary lifestyles or don’t need their physical performance in great shape.
9. Do You Treat Adults Only?
Pediatric foot conditions need to be addressed early on before they become lifelong issues. If you have children, it’s best to choose a podiatrist that can also diagnose and treat pediatric foot disorders and injuries. This will save you time and money in the long run.
10. Do You Accept My Insurance?
When it comes to medical care, paying out of pocket can be a huge burden. As such, go with a podiatrist who accepts your insurance and can perform a variety of treatments and services that are covered. There’s no point in seeing a podiatrist who your insurance offers limited coverage for. In the long run, you could need additional treatments that would have to be paid out of pocket, causing you to spend a lot of money unnecessarily.
Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Care From Experienced Podiatrists in Cincinnati, OH
Since 1998, Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care (CFAC) has provided the highest quality podiatric care to our community. Our board-certified podiatrists are able to diagnose and treat a full range of foot and ankle conditions and disorders. We have 18 locations across Ohio that you can choose from.
To request an appointment, call the CFAC clinic nearest you or submit a request today, and our staff will get back to you quickly.