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Podiatry Company Collapse

Discussion in 'Australia' started by ackers, Dec 1, 2009.

  1. ackers

    ackers Member


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    Hi all out there,

    I am a podiatrist that works in aged care podiatry in Melbourne. I was an employee of an aged care company that went into liquidation and receivership and have been given information that another aged care company,(run until very recently by the same person as the last one) has done the same thing, this time worse, I think, as it involves both aged care facilities and general practice clinics.
    I don't think I should or will name the company (although it advertises in your google add banner) and I feel it may lack the Care or Professionalism its name suggests.

    I feel I need to point out that I have absolutely NO involvement with the soon to be liquidated company, OR its main competitor, but after my involvement with the last debacle have gone it alone.

    My question or concern about this is what can be done to attempt to stop this happening again? The main financial controller of both of the companies is NOT a podiatrist and hence can't be deregistered or controlled by the Relevant Podiatry board or association. Can we control whom owns podiatry practices, making it illegal for the decisions of a Podiatry company to be made by a non-podiatrist?

    Being involved (as an employee) of the last collapse, it hurt my standing with former clients whom were obviously angry at not having a clinic to go to anymore, and it hurt Podiatry's reputation itself.

    I think another company collapse like this just gives more cannon fodder to any of our rival groups out there that try and say that Podiatry isn't as professional a profession as it says it is. Can we stop it?

    Vaughan Ackland
     
  2. alan shepherd

    alan shepherd Member

    Hi Ackers, Bad news sure travels fast. Your quite correct when you say that an aged care company seems to be gong the same way as the company you were involved with. There would appear to be serious consequences with a whole range of companies who appear to have supplied equipment, supplies and financial backing to this company. My own company A.K.Surgical would appear to have lost a substancial amount of money from a group of individuals including Podiatrists that appear to be involved.
    Your comments regarding the financial controller of this company would appear to be quite valid, having escaped penal servitude and with a great deal of leniency due to ill health. I hear your comments regarding what can be done to stop this again as he is not a Podiatrist but there are Podiatrists involved with him who I feel certain do understand the remifications of his action and therefore can come under the juristriction of the Podiatry Board and Association. My understanding of this situation that there will be a liquidation tomorrow 2nd December, in the Surpreme Court of Melbourne and do doubt liquidation will follow. Having said that like the rising of the phoenix another shelf company appears to be in the wings. Set up in July '09 ready to put its claws into the public funding of Medicare, DVA, together with the aged care networks. I am not sure if having a company controlled by a non Podiatrist is the problem but more so the governing bodies including ASIC have lost the plot and cannot see the wood for the trees. The involvement of the Podiatry Association and the Board should and must act with due diligence when this whole scenario comes to pass. Having spent more than 35years in podiatry as a wholesaler I have seen many instances where in action has left bad feeling within the Profession and appreciate this forum to share my views. I often tell many of my clients "in jest" that upon retirement I shall put pen to paper and write a book indicating that for $10,000 they can be left out. I think this is blackmail but perhaps I am joking. We hope to hear a bit more tomorrow at Supreme Court. Alan Shepherd
     
  3. PodAus

    PodAus Active Member

    The convicted criminal and con-man involved with this company, {lets play safe and keep the name out of it, but we all know who he is}, has left a long list of creditors in his wake. :santa:

    He should be in jail. :butcher:

    Expect to see him involved with other allied health + Podiatry businesses though, as he targets Medicare and DVA for income. :bang:

    All beware of being associated with this man.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 24, 2010
  4. jos

    jos Active Member

    My understanding was that only a podiatrist could own and operate a podiatry clinic. if so, why has this person raised his ugly head, yet again, to bring our profession into disrepute? Where is our Board/ Council/ Association - don't they have some powers to stop this from happening again?
     
  5. Paul Bowles

    Paul Bowles Well-Known Member

    Why would this be the case? That's like saying only a person with a degree in Business can run a business....A Podiatry clinic is simply a business: Nothing more. It is the Podiatrists who must be registered legally to practice Podiatry.

    If the person in question is not a Podiatrist the Board is powerless more or less. The APodC and Associations are toothless tigers and have no part to play in legislation or protection of the public anyhow.

    I have no idea what this matter is about (I live in NSW) but it sounds to me like it is a business matter and possibly a legal one at that. It is not Podiatry specific, except that Podiatrists and or Podiatry patients may be involved.
     
  6. NewsBot

    NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

    Articles:
    1
    It was adjourned for 2 weeks due to documentation issues.

    Kinetic Orthotics are the applicants and CarePro Allied Health Pty Ltd is the defendant.

    There seems to be a lot of movement of assets and listing of directors if you dig into the asic website.

    This is the company here.

    The website says:
    CarePro (IT) Pty Ltd providing services to CarePro (Aged Care) Pty Ltd and CarePro (Clinics) Pty Ltd. The court action is against CarePro Allied Health Pty Ltd
     
  7. pgcarter

    pgcarter Well-Known Member

    I have seen lots of this sort of thing over the years, some people can't be trusted and all you have to do is not do business with them.....suppliers are repeat suckers often because if they refuse credit they miss out on sales...it's a hard decision isn't it Alan?? You can't really blame anyone in particular because there is always room for some one to do the wrong thing...you just have to keep to the highest principles yourself and only deal with similar people and you won't be burned by people like this.
    regards Phill Carter
     
  8. ClintonAbel

    ClintonAbel Active Member

    I was wondering if someone could enlighten me on the way in which this entity runs. Do they manage clinics under a common brand or do they own these clinics outright?
    As far as a podiatry business being run by a podiatrist, this obviously is no longer the case. I think the only profession still to hold this honour / privilege, are the pharmacists (and they are only just holding on tight by their finger tips).
    Thanks for the information.

    Clinton
     
  9. Boots n all

    Boots n all Well-Known Member

    l have seen the old suppliers not given much of a choice in the situation, as the new company starts up they offer the old suppliers 10% on top of the market price to get supply again until the old debt is resolved, not a bad outcome for the old debt but in the end but you end up dealing with the same low life all over again
     
  10. Nat Smith

    Nat Smith Active Member

    The Board/Assoc/Council may not have any control over businesses run by non-podiatrists, but they are responsible for protecting podiatrists and the reputation of our profession. Are they not able to advise podiatrists of disreputable companies that have had legal or ethical complaints filed against them?
    If they can't get any pods to work for them, they'll soon go out of business permanently.
    I feel sorry for interstate or overseas pods who come in and get stuck working for such companies because they haven't had the advantage of the victorian pod gossip network to warn them against it.
    I think the same goes for the problems facing the suppliers not getting paid...these companies should get blacklisted and cut off.
     
  11. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

    Articles:
    8
    Its not that easy.
    I once had a lawyers letter arrive becasue I stated in a private conversation about one of the previous companies that "they had a bad reputation". Thats what they do, but:
    1. It was a private conversation and was not broadcast (?duh -- the lawyer was not very bright!)
    2. I could have called every single key person in the profession in Victoria who would have provided evidence that they had a bad reputation!!! The truth is always the best defence.

    I even got another set of lawyers letters over another matter involving this group of people and I was even referred to the Associations ethics committee over that matter. It went no where as everyone on the ethics committee agreed with what I had said! The truth is the best defence.
    I and many many others are happy to give this advice and do ....privatly.
    I do not know the way around this unless you want to get involved in legal issues with the people and companies involved.
    ....there is a lot more going on than what is written here --- you have to read between the lines ;)

    The Registration Board can only act against registered podiatrists and only if there are patient safety issues involved. They can not get involved in business disputes. The APodA(Vic) would love to see this company and all the shenigans gone (some will recall the front page story in the newspapers a while back about a medicare fraud investigation -- this is the same comapny) as it does look bad for the profession .... but realistically there is not a lot that can be done. Its been discussed.
     
  12. Lopa

    Lopa Banned

    I feel sorry for interstate or overseas pods who come in and get stuck working for such companies because they haven't had the advantage of the victorian pod gossip network to warn them against it.

    I seriously feel I'm warned now, I seriously can't believe that such things also occurs in the World.

    {ADMIN NOTE: Spam link drop removed}
     
  13. brevis

    brevis Active Member

    hmmm this smells like spam
     
  14. admin

    admin Administrator Staff Member

    You right, it was. I deleted the link drop. They must think we are stoopid.
     
  15. Moose

    Moose Active Member

    A quote from that website page:
    "
    CAREPRO & MEDICARE
    As one of the Largest claimants of Medicare EPC, we understand the Systems, Rules and Regulations. We take away the complexity for you and we work with your GP's to streamline all processes.

    As the only Allied Health provider appearing on the Medicare Australia website with a "Vendor Software Agreement", you know you can rely on us.
    Call us for more information 1300 307 319 "
    Interesting .....:sinking:
     
  16. alan shepherd

    alan shepherd Member

    hi moose.
    as asupplierto carepro.and lost around $17000.00 to marcus doille I,like yourself cannot understand how this advertising can still continue.at this time the liquidator has still not released a report.
    the two podiatrists "running the business"are still using my equipment , medicare seems not interested dva seems not interested,asics cannot believe that the companies now operating are phoenix companies other traders also seem disinterested organisations that accept their advertisemens also seem
    oblivious to this situation .perhaps they are now paying their bills or perhaps a new phoenix is on the rise.:confused:
     
  17. PodAus

    PodAus Active Member

    Hi Alan,

    Maybe try contacting the clinic owners whom they rent a room from to "just ask if they are being paid on time. Let it 'slip' that the Podiatry business is trading whilst insolvent and that you along with many others are owed big $$."
    Putting pressure on Doille and his staff may pay dividends because he likes to be "left alone..."
     
  18. stoken

    stoken Member

    Hi Alan,
    I'm also amazed that they're still operating under a different name, its business as usual. As a previous employee I'm still owed $5000 from 5 years ago, which I've concluded I'll never see again. other pods I know who were past employees are in the same boat as I am.


    I just hope one day the law catches up with him.
     
  19. m2drew

    m2drew Welcome New Poster

    Marcus Doille is still operating and currently goes by the name of John Marks.
    A big podiatry group across Melbourne.
    I have recently left this company as they were not paying me
    Superannuation and the 'directors' of this company consistently blamed
    everyone else for this including the ATO.
    How they are able to get away with this baffles me.
    Beware of this company!
     
  20. surfboy

    surfboy Active Member

    Seriously, I don't know why podiatrists sign up to work for these aged care companies. I would never work for one. Get your own nursing home contracts, do a good job, and take all the money home yourself without the "company" taking 50% of your hard earned billings. Why do you even bother signing up to these companies in the first place???
     
  21. Heather J Bassett

    Heather J Bassett Well-Known Member

    Welcome m2drew, good to hear that you have moved on! Closed that chapter and ready for a new one.

    Do you have a new position? Good luck!

    There are many reasons a new graduate would sign up with aged care companies,,, I have heard good things as well as the bad.

    Cheers
     
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