what is the advantage of a podiatrist in an orthopaedic clinic !!

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Hi all ..

Finally, I finished my bachelor of podiatry in australia and i applied to work in an orthopaedic clinic with orthpaedic doctors and surgeons ..

the first question i'm expecting them to ask: what can you add to our practice ??!!

So, i was thinking of the answer !! what a podiatrist is specilized in that orthopaedic doctors or surgeons don't do !!!

any tips !!!!!!!!

 

Make themselves a cuppa! Worked in theatres in my youth, and cannot remember one surgeon / anaesthetist (including females) making themselves a cup of whatever.
Remember one anaesthetist who used to get us to bring in a cuppa and plate of sandwiches into the theatre whilst they were operating!

 

Cool avatar, Fanjawe!

I have been working with an orthopedic group or with an orthopedic surgeon in my own practice for over 24 years (ever since I started practice). They have sent me anyone that needs foot orthoses, runners that need non-surgical treatment, diabetics that need foot care/foot surgery and an occasional consult for foot surgeries they don't do or don't want to do. I also will assist them with foot surgeries on their own patients, at their request, to show them techniques of foot surgery they are not familiar or comfortable with.

For my type of personality and my special type of podiatic practice, practicing with orthopedic surgeons was one of the best decisions I ever made due to the great education I received from working with them over the years, especially when it came to trauma and surgery. Honestly, I am very happy that I didn't go into practice with another podiatrist during my early years, since, from what I have seen over the years, many podiatrists like to feed on their own young. I have yet to work with an orthopedic surgeon (I have worked with seven orthopedic surgeons over the past 24+ years) that didn't treat me with respect once they saw the quality of my work.

So much for the typical opinion that podiatrists have of orthopedic surgeons or the typical opinion that orthopedic surgeons have of podiatrists.

 

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I think that it could be a great place to work if you can get people to open up to your ideas and views.

Most orthopeadic surg that I have come across have not the same levels of foot biomechanics as we have, but they will not admit this.

So your role would be as biomechancial specialist pre and post surg, you could work have to reduce or delay surg amd help with post op recovery and rehab. It could make for some very intersting days.

But this will depend on your Knowledge , Them being open to your ideas and Your communication skills.

Good luck but I would recommend not to go in with all guns blasting away ,learn from them and as you get more confident in your knowledge slowly introduce your views.

 

How about any non-surgical treatment of musculoskeletal conditions affecting the foot and ankle.

 

that's funny markjohconley

thanks for ur reply ..

 

Kevin Kirby ..

thank you for your reply and information .. It seems working with orthopaedic surgeons and doctors will be very interesting and informative and really i'm looking forward for it ...

the only problem i'm thinking of is lack of my exeperince !! Do you have any recommondations for my starting with them ??!!!!

Cheeeer$

 

m weber ..

Appreciate your reply .. YES biomechanics and orthoses were one of things i was thinking about ..

In fact, i really find biomechanics hard to understand, but i love it as well as sports injuries, so that's why i picked up this clinic to start my career ..

valuable advice, for sure will be followed

Cheeeers

 

Thank you Peter for passing by ..

Yup i think that will be the case as they are very busy surgries especially as we don't have many podiatrists in the country over there

Cheeeers

 

1. Know your foot and lower extremity anatomy better than they do.

2. Have references on treatments that you commonly do on the tip of your tongue so when they ask you about them.....you sound like an encyclopedia.

3. Be polite but also be confident in what you do. Don't let them run over the top of you and if they are acting like ***holes toward you, then give them "grief" right back. In other words, if you are a pushover...they will respect you less and walk right over the top of you.

4. Do only quality work and treat your patients and your staff like they are members of your loved family.

5. Go to work every day imagining that what you are and what you do represents the model for all podiatrists around the world....which, in many cases, is not too far from the truth.

Good luck.:drinks

 

Hi Fanjawe
I started working 2 years ago for a group of clinical dermatologists here in Portugal and my doubts are the same as yours. How could I show them the my capabilities mainly related to the diseases of the skin.
I did what Weber said, I began to hear and learn from them and slowly introducing my own knowledge and now I am beginning to be more respected by them and they already come to me to ask my opinion.
Start slowly and then when you're safer in your knowledge slowly introducing your opinion.

Good luck to you in your new adventure. :santa:

 

Yes Kevin Kirby, you are completely right Really very valuable advices to follow especially for the beginners..

will print and stick them in my desk :drinks

CHEEEEER$

 

anDRe.. Thanks alot for your reply ..

it seems it is not easy to start with the experts .. BUT yes as you said introduce myself and knowledge slowly until i get there

Thanks again ..

Cheeeeeeer$

 

You should also see yourself as an expert in your field, you will develope your skills as times goes on but I beleive every good Podiatrist learns something new everyday.

 

I have worked with orthopaedic surgeons for many years and have a routine podiatry/orthopaedic clinic in our biomechanics clinic/orthotic laboratory. The interesting thing is the difference in terminology that we use. At first the orthopods a bit confused until our reasoning behind our terminoloy is explained to them. It's a great education for both parties and I recommend to all our new starters to sit and observe how orthopods examine their patients. It adds a dimension to your examinations. With due respect to orthopods, they are not terribly biomechanically orientated, well at least not the ones I have worked with and not in the way that we are. If you start talking about ground reaction forces, high, low or medially deviated axes they give you an understanding nod but its apparent that these are concepts that are not a part of their orthopaedic training. Bear in mind that they are surgically orientated and if they have a patient in front of them on which they don't want to operate on you will be offering the alternatives. This is a great oppurtunity for you, seize it with both hands.
On the note of prejudices and the general thinking that orthopaedics have a low regard for podiatrists, I think that was the case because I have come across this during my career. However, I think this has changed largely in recent years has our profession has grown in stature. I also agree entirely with Kevin Kirby that if you stand up to them and give a good account of yourself you will gain respect.
Orthopaedic surgeons have a past reputation of acting liike God hence they are the butt of many jokes e.g., forgive me if you have heard these before, 1) A man dies and goes to heaven. He spends a few days settling in and one day he is walking about and he bumps into St Peter. The man says to St Peter, I been here for about a week now and I don't think I've come across God yet,where can I find him? Oh, says St. Peter, he's that guy over there with a white coat on surrounded by medical students, he thinks he's an orthopaedic surgeon. 2) What happens if you give an orthopaedic surgeon Viagra? Answer: he just grows taller. Good luck

 

Another alternative you might consider is working with physio's for a bit before moving onto orthopaedics.
I am employed by MD team and sit on the musculoskeletal service. Working closely with Physio's will expand your skill set in much the same way as other contributors have described, but from a more conservative mindset. A year or two of that and then orthopaedics - they couldn't afford NOT to have you.

Good luck, make your career what you want it to be,
Sally