A heartbreaking patient

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I will share a story and see if anyone has a similiar one.Had a 31 year old female come into my office.She had diabetes.She also has muscular dystrophy and is wheelchair bound and cannot even breathe without the aid of an oxygen tank.She came in twice since April for nail cutting.And,because she has New York Medicaid-podiatrists do not get reimbursed directly for these patients unless Medicaid is secondary to Medicare as insurance or the patient is younger than 21-I have to charge her cash.She pays it without complaint.
I know we as pods see all kinds of sad situations and unless you are dead,you will feel bad.But there is something especially heartbreaking about this young lady.
Anyone have any stories like this to share?

 

Too true!

I know what you mean John, I hate doing 'doms', my 55 year old corpulant frame doesn't appreciate being huddled on a little stool in front of a semi mobile Pt, and then there are the issues of sterility of instruments etc etc, but when you see 100 yr olds ( i've got two) who just can't cut their nails I feel obliged to help. They should get social nail care from our supposed NHS - but dont. And if anybody responds with 'I'm a Podiatrist, I dont cut nails' dont bother, I could make out an acute needs CCP to blow your mind for both these Pts. So - I lose money and clinic time, but sleep better at nights!

Regards,

Martin

 

I charge her 20 dollars and almost still feel like it is too much.I have to get paid for my work,so I do not feel a ton of guilt,but I do feel a little.

 

I have 2 sons with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy aged 7 & 6 each time I look at them I cry inside as I know what horrors await them and they don't. I left my job in the NHS to study podiatry so that I could at least try and help their mobility a little (I don't regard myself clever enough to become a Dr). But the hardest thing I guess as a parent and pod is that I know i'll never be able to beat what's killing them a little more each day. I do feel for both of you having to deal with doms and for charging the lady with MD - BELIEVE me that's an incredibly RARE thing for her to be a suffer of.

Kind Regards,

Mike Taylor