Royal Australian College of Podiatric Physicians

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Now just a thought. If we are now a profession that is legislated to specialise ie podiatric surgery, shouldn't we be lobbying for more specialties? Well here are a few that I have gathered that some podiatrists think we should have:

General Podiatrist or Podiatric Physician
Podiatric Surgeon
Podiatric Sports Physician
Podopaediatric Specialist or Podopaediatrician
Diabetes Podiatrist or Diabetic Foot Physician
High Risk/Wound Care Podiatrist
Onco-podiatrist (Skin Cancers) or Podiatric Oncologist
Dermatological Podiatrist or Podiatric Dermatologist
Vascular Podiatrist
Neuro-podiatrist

Now with the dental profession having a Royal Australasian College of Dental surgeons regulating the specialties, shouldn't we have one? the ACPS should have a think of thiss by offering fellowships for non-surgical specialties. Now I know you are thinking we have little political influence to pull this of, we are a small population of only approximately 3500 podiatrists in AU and not enough training places. Well lets get the APodC to have a look at this. What are people's thoughts??

 

Unlikely to happen. The lack of response to your post might reflect that lack of will.

There have been recent discussions between AAPSM and the high risk group, but I understand its not going anywhere. There is certainly a lack of political will at the Registration Board and APodC level for this.

The Podiatric Surgeons in Australia have specialist recognition from the Registration Board as they do things that a general podiatrist can not do (surgery; certain drugs; 'professional attention').

If there is to be specialist recognition at that level for Sports, paediatrics, diabetes etc, then they have to demonstrate and convince the "the powers that be" that there are things that they do that the general podiatrist can not do. I can't see anything. For eg "Sports" podiatrists might do it better and do it more often than a general podiatrist, but there is nothing they do that the general podiatrists can not do (like the surgical podiatrists).

The closest to perhaps making a case for specialist recognition are the high risk group, as there are some things that they are starting to do that a general podiatrists can not do (such as admission rights to hospital; access to advanced wound care technologies), so they may be in a position to make a strong case in the medium term.

This does not mean that there should not be special interest groups for CPD and political lobbying etc (we already have AAPSM, the high risk group; many states have paediatric special interest groups)

 

Hi Craig,

Well what about possibilities of setting up the fictional RACPP to reality and maybe offer for example a sports podaitry fellowship in conjunction with the AAPSM & Australasian College of Sports Physicians (ACSP)? then there would be more of a recognition and reasoning for lobbying for specailist recognition. What can a sports pod do that a general pod cant? well why not integrate further training and im sure the sports physicians can teach us something. with diabetes maybe there could be further training? Even maybe also offering podiatry fellowships in oncology or dermatology with the relevant medical college? I mean our scope of practice is really broad when you think about it. thoughts?

 

I don't think we will ever get royal assent.

And setting up a college takes a lot of time and money. I have been involved in a number of meetings looking at such options, but getting a variety of podiatrist specialties as well as dealing with various state differences makes it almost impossible to get a consensus

 

I commend you on your enthusiasm, pdoan. It is great to see someone enthusiastic about lifting the status of the profession and trying to advance its standing.

Personally, in some respects I find our profession to be quite self-defeating. There is a certain lack of organisation and cooperation amongst the state Podiatry bodies. Personally, I feel the best way forward is for all of the state associations to be abolished, and for one national association to be formed. - The Physiotherapy Association, or APA, has done this. By doing this, we may be able to lobby much more effectively and powerfully as a collective. - Let's face it, having 900 (or less) members in the NSW Association alone, is FAR from an effective lobby group.

However, I digress: I pay approximately $1000 in annual membership fees to my state association. Personally, I can't see where my funds go to; except to support the salary of the executive officer and office administration staff. Sure, I get a monthly magazine, but this is about the extent of it.

 

Agreed. Where does the money drain go?
Our profession is still growing in Australia. And that is a good point about state associations, they should all unite then we can have more lobbying power.

 

Remember that there is, or should be, a separation between the professional body (a.pod.a, AMA etc) and the educational college (ACPS, RACS, RACP etc.) so you are likely to have to pay again for college fellowship.
And if you want some input into where the association money is spent, the best way is to get involved through your local a.pod.a executive.