Pedorthic Newswire Issue #464

April 11, 2012, Issue #464

DISCUSSION

Send your comments, questions, responses, articles or case studies to Pedorthic Newswire at editor@pedorthicnewswire.com

Your emails will be reviewed by pedorthists and the editors of Pedorthic Newswire, and selected submissions will be posted in an upcoming issue for feedback from other readers. We reserve the right to edit submissions and responses. Please note:the deadline for all submissions and responses is 12 noon Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday for that week's issue.

NEW QUESTION AND COMMENTS

Question: I had someone ask me for Cheerleader shoes the other day. I did some research and found different manufacturers on the internet. Most of the shoes do not look like they would deliver what the manufacturer promises, which is:
- Good arch support (there is a picture of a normal looking shoe inlay)
- Extra cushioned outsole (those things are so flat that I have no idea where they get the extra cushion.)

Any information or your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

-CPed2006

Comment: With all the articles in our industry trade publications talking about the delays in shipments of shoes to US and problems with workforce at Chinese factories, we are seeing more and more defects or lack of quality control in shoes shipped to our store. These are with brands that historically we had few if any quality issues. We recently received 5 pair of men's 11.5 D athletic shoes and every pair had multiple glue spots visible on leather upper, plus extensive, sloppy glue run over around vamp/soling at heel area. Since we needed the inventory, I paid to have my staff remove glue spots as best they could. One pair was not salvageable.

The cleaning took 5-10 minutes per shoe of my staff's time to clean up the glue. Since the articles make it sound like Chinese factories are having a harder and harder time in filling orders in a timely fashion and probably are telling quality control to back off to fill orders, I am thinking of having a store policy of charging back company my staff's time to correct problems and if it gets where we have to pull every pair of shoes out of box and do complete inspection on a brand, also charge back an inspection fee. Have other store owners resorted to this chargeback for their staff's time yet?

-John Mishasek, BOCPD, CPed

PREVIOUS QUESTION WITH RESPONSE

Question: I am in the process to request my accreditation and after that apply for a Medicare Supplier number. I was told that while I am waiting for the Accreditation Survey, I have to do business and also see Medicare patients without being able to bill Medicare. Has anybody gone through this in the last year or so and what tips, tricks or advice can you give me to survive those first few months "without income". I was told I can also not bill either for the Medicare patient I see while waiting. Can I at least file this as a "loss" at the end of the physical year? FYI: I will also sell Retail items. Thank you.

- CPed2006

Response: During the process you can and should treat customers of course, but you will need to execute a completed ABN with each customer explaining that you are not yet able to bill Medicare or have completed the accreditation policy and that because they are coming to you their items cannot be billed to Medicare. Have each customer sign the ABN and pay upfront or half upfront with a signed agreement for ½ now and ½ at delivery. On the ABN they need to agree to select option 2 to receive and not have billed or 3 to not receive. Your job will be to explain it very clearly their options and what they are signing and paying. Then sell yourself on why they should do business with you. I would set pricing reasonable as you won't have all Medicare hoopla to mess with and customers should feel that there is a good enough reason to see you vs. another company that can bill their items.

Option two is to service the customers at no cost, which is a fine line on enticing business and if I were a surveyor would consider that to be a sketchy practice. Best of Luck with your new business!

-Amber M. Hays

SPONSOR NEWS

HEALTH AND INDUSTRY

Foot health on the job

By: Leana Huntley

In the work environment high productivity is of utmost importance. The other critical factor is safety. Safety entails both protecting your feet from danger and should address comfort as well via footwear. A client was once referred to us, who due to ignorance, was wearing plastic bags instead of socks to work. He wore them with sneakers for a job that should have required boots. These are the simple yet serious errors that are made, which in his case resulted in fungal infection along with smelly feet. Full Text

Source: Trinidad and Tobago News

6 in 10 Teens Have Foot Pain

By: Ann Pietrangelo

Alot of adults suffer from foot pain and discomfort for a variety of reasons, but did you know that six out of 10 teens have foot pain, too? A survey conducted by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) shows that sports are the number one cause of foot pain among teens; two out of 10 teens suffer from pain due to wearing high heels and other uncomfortable footwear; and less than two out of 10 teens have ever seen a podiatrist to treat foot problem. Full Text

Source: Care 2

Running shoe debate heats up with the weather

Spring is here! The forsythia is in bloom, the trees are turning green and runners are hitting the road. Every year, 36 million people in the United States run and about half of them suffer at least one injury. To prevent injury, runners are advised to stretch properly, cross-train in other sports and, above all, to wear proper footwear. Shoes come in for a good deal of the blame for injury and in the last couple of years debate about running shoes has been particularly heated, focusing on the merits of running barefoot or in "minimalist" shoes that mimic running barefoot. "For thirty years, there has been very little structural change in running shoes," says Dr. Alan Berman, Podiatrist with Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Group. "Now runners and shoe manufacturers are jumping on the barefoot bandwagon with dramatically different designs that have serious implications for runners' form and the potential for injury." Full Text

Source: Stamford Plus

AETREX iSTEP WEBINARS

Visit our full April 2012 Schedule

DIABETES

Skipping breakfast could cause diabetes in men

If you happen to be one of those who doesn't mind avoiding breakfast, watch out. For scientists have found that men regularly skipping their morning meal are more likely to develop diabetes. The study discovered that missing out on food first thing in the morning increases a man's chances of getting the disease by more than 20 percent compared to men who routinely eat after waking up in the morning, the Daily Mail reported.

The latest results, from a major investigation involving about 30,000 men, offer the strongest evidence yet that it can reduce the risk of diabetes. They also show that even men, who are not overweight and may have a reasonably healthy diet the rest of the time, could still be at risk if they miss breakfast. Full Text

Source: Yahoo

Diabetes blood pressure control warning

Half of people with diabetes are failing to keep control of their blood pressure, risking "damaging" complications, figures suggest. The analysis of NHS data in England by Diabetes UK showed the number of people not hitting their target has been stuck at about 50% in recent years. High blood pressure increases the risk of conditions such as heart disease, kidney failure and stroke. The charity said people needed more support to control their condition. People with diabetes are normally told to keep their blood pressure below 130/80, slightly lower than the target for the rest of the population. Full Text

Source: BBC News

Got diabetes? Take your multivitamin

For people with diabetes, taking a multivitamin every day can mean much more than a little protection against the common cold. Research is finding that multivitamins can be the first line of defense against many different types of infections, including respiratory infections and influenza. "Once a person with diabetes gets an infection, it's much harder for them to get rid of it, and it can lead to dire consequences, even death," says Registered and Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist Debra Spector. "And since some diabetic patients don't normally respond well to treatment, prevention is key." Full Text

Source: Click on Detroit

SPORTS AND FITNESS

Balancing Act: Companies encourage employees to join wellness programs, get healthy

By: Cindy Krischer Goodman

A friend of mine is overweight, probably about 100 pounds more than what would be considered healthy. She works long hours, eats when she is stressed and says she has no time to exercise. Her employer is much less cavalier than she about the situation. After a health assessment showing she's at risk for diabetes, she has been "encouraged" to participate in a weight-loss program and forced to pay a higher insurance premium. "I work hard. Should I really have to pay more than my slack co-worker because I'm overweight?" she asked me. I expect to hear that question more often. Full Text

Source: Kansas City Star

Diet, Exercise Beats Pills, Fads: Study

Surprise! Eating a healthy diet and regularly exercising helps obese Americans lose more weight than those who turn to diet fads and pills.

Researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical Center analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which was conducted by the CDC. The data came from more than 4,000 obese individuals aged 20 years and older with a BMI of 30 or over.

More than half of the people in the survey reportedly were trying to lose weight at the time of the study, which was conducted between 2001 and 2006. About 40 percent had lost 5 percent or more of their body fat in that time, and 20 percent of the participants lost 10 percent or more. Full Text

Source: ABC News

BECOMING CERTIFIED IN PEDORTHICS

Pedorthics is a professional field covering the design, manufacture, modification and/or fit of footwear. Pedorthics encompasses shoes, orthoses and foot devices that prevent or alleviate foot problems caused by disease, overuse, injury or congenital defect. Certified Pedorthists work with patients and their footwear to conform to a doctor's footwear prescription as part of the patient's treatment

To earn certification in Pedorthics, you must take a pre-determined number of course hours in pedorthics and pass a certifying examination overseen by either The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics® or Board for Certification/Accreditation, Int'l. Both the ABC and BOC are independent certification bodies that set standards for the profession and offer certifications that are recognized by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

More information, including FAQ's

The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics information on the step-by-step process of becoming a certified pedorthist

Board of Certification/Accreditation International information on becoming a BOC Pedorthist.

For information on the Canadian certifying organization visit The Pedorthic Association of Canada.

ONGOING COURSES AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR BECOMING CERTIFIED IN PEDORTHICS

The Robert M. Palmer M.D., Institute of Biomechanics "A Not-For-Profit School" has uniquely designed courses to provide pedorthic education for the retail, clinical or biomechanical knowledge seeking pedorthist. Course dates for Levels 1-3 in a variety of locations in the United States, Hong Kong, Mainland China and Korea are available. Click here to view a detailed calendar including dates and locations, information and pricing.

Robert M Palmer 2012 Schedule

March

Elwood, Indiana - March 31 - April 9

April

Toronto / Sarnia - Canada TBD

May

Elwood, Indiana - May 5 - 14

June

Brea / El Monte, California TBD - June 23 - July 2

August

Elwood, Indiana - August 18- 27

September

Orlando, Florida - Sept 8 - 17

Elwood, Indiana - Sept 29 - Oct 8

Fall 2012

Malaysia TBD -

November

Elwood, Indiana - Nov 10 - 19

December

Brea / El Monte, California - Dec 8

RMPI Pre Certification Training- PEDORTHIC PRE-CERTIFICATION EDUCATION
PFA Scholarship Value @ 70% Savings
Published Tuition 2010 - $4K, "Powerstep Scholarship" Tuition Total $1500
(does not include travel / books / meals)
Must Enroll Before April 30, 2012
Attendance Date Flexible - CAPE/NCOPE Compliant - Levels 1,2,3
Courses Held In Elwood, Indiana Include Dormitory Housing & Shuttle Service
By prior reservation on a first-come-first-serve basis
To learn more about our courses or how you can share our vision, visit us at:
www.rmpi.org

CFS Allied Health Education: Pedorthic Certification: Exam Review. This review is focused on supplying the student with the skills and knowledge needed to pass the ABC Certified Pedorthic exam by presenting exam-like questions, exploring possible answers, and discussing rationales for correct and incorrect answers. Contact CFS Allied Health Education at (918) 266-3678 or visit http://www.learnpedorthics.com/ for more information.

*ABC and The American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics are registered trademarks of the The American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc., which is not affiliated with CFS Allied Health Education and does not endorse this review.

Pedorthic Pre-Certification Training Course July 30th - August 12, 2012 In cooperation with ABC requirements, Eneslow Pedorthic Institute (EPI) is offering the three-level competency training course for aspiring CPEDS. To provide maximum benefit in a minimum of time, a portion of the level one curriculum will be administered through a distance learning program that includes required readings, interactive CD's and testing of all mandatory topics.

Upon passing the level one test, students will attend the remainder of the pedorthic pre-certification course at Eneslow Pedorthic Institute for 2 weeks during July 30th, 2012 to August 12th, 2012. This class completes required education prerequisite to sit for national certification exam. It does not satisfy the requirement of 1000 documented hours of field experience.

For more information on ABC Clinical Practice Requirements, please go to www.abcop.org.

Please contact Sarah Goldberg at epi@eneslow.com or 212-477-2300 x211 for more information. Pedorthic Pre-Certification Course - $3,995

BECOME AN ABC THERAPEUTIC SHOE FITTER

For information on Aetrex Worldwide Therapeutic Shoe Fitter Courses, please contact the Aetrex Marketing Department at: marketing@aetrex.com.

Aetrex Worldwide Therapeutic Shoe Fitter Courses

April 18- 2012 Greensboro NC

Information on 2012 Aetrex Worldwide Therapeutic Shoe Fitter Courses will be coming soon.

2012 COURSES

2012 FOOT SOLUTIONS PEDORTHIC PRE-CERTIFICATION COURSE SCHEDULE & INFORMATION

Foot Solutions is an accredited facility that holds classes four times per year. The course will offer the certificate needed in all three levels so that you qualify to sit for the C. Ped. Exam. The facility is located at 2359 Windy Hill Road, Suite 400, Marietta, GA 30067

February 13 - February 24

May 11 - 1 Day Cram Session (free with attendance of pre-cert class)

May 14 - May 25

August 3 - 1 Day Cram Session (free with attendance of pre-cert class)

August 6 - August 17

October 8 - October 19

November 9 - 1 Day Cram Session (free with attendance of pre-cert class)

For application and fee information, contact:

Tracy Strickland 1-866-338-2597 EXT: 206 tstrickland@footsolutions.com

Betty Hubauer 1-866-338-2597 EXT: 201 bhubauer@footsolutions.com

Dr. William Faddock 1-866-338-2597 EXT: 209 bfaddock@footsolutions.com

UPCOMING COURSES FOR CERTIFIED PEDORTHISTS & ALLIED PROFESSIONALS

MONTHLY AND ONGOING

Riecken's Orthotic Labs - 800-331-8040; SAFIO Class, Second Friday of every month, at 5115 Oak Grove Rd., Evansville, IN. Four casting stands provided, limited to 8 students. Contact Darlene at the above number for more information.

Traveling Courses To Your Area sponsored by The Robert M. Palmer, M.D., Institute of Biomechanics, Inc. a not-for-profit pedorthic school. Please contact us to discuss your needs at phone: 765-557-7216. Email: pam@pedorthicbiomechanics.org or visit our Web site at: http://www.pedorthicbiomechanics.org/.

The Robert M. Palmer, M.D., Institute Of Biomechanics, Inc. a not-for-profit pedorthic school: Advanced Manufacturing - 50 Hour Course - Approved For 49.5 CME's for Pedorthists by the ABC. This course is designed to teach BAPFOL standards in manufacturing functional feet orthoses and provide an introduction to advanced biomechanical posting. Class size is limited to two students. For more information or to customize a course to meet your manufacturing educational needs, please email pam@rmpi.org or phone 765-557-7216. Tuition cost: $2K - includes housing and transportation to and from the airport and school. Click Here for More Info

April

Toronto / Sarnia - Canada - Two Courses: April 11 - 25