The Role of Podiatry During the COVID-19 Pandemic

NewsBot · Feb 3, 2023

Patient Outcomes of Virtual Foot and Ankle Telephone Clinics during COVID-19 Pandemic: One Year Experience
Aysha Rajeev, FRCS et al
January 31, 2023

COVID-19 pandemic has instigated to find alternative methods of assessing and treating patients with foot and ankle disorders. We have implemented virtual telephone clinic consultations along with the face-to-face consultations. It has reduced overcrowding in the busy outpatient waiting area and thus limiting close patient contact. The aim of this study is to audit the patient satisfaction outcomes, assess the feasibility and to find out the potential financial implications of introducing telephone clinic consultations for foot and ankle disorders. A total of 426 patients who had telephone consultations for foot and ankle disorders for a period of one year were included. Patients were given individual time slots for the consultations. The patient satisfaction outcomes were assessed using a structured questionnaire. The outcomes following the telephone consultation was audited. The financial cost was calculated for the study period. Following the telephone consultation 35% of the patients were discharged and 36% were given further face to face appointments. 97.5% were very satisfied or satisfied with the methodology and outcomes of the telephone consultation. 95% of the patients commented that they would recommend telephone consultations for foot and ankle to their friends and family. The financial savings calculated during the study period was about £25000 ($30,000). Virtual telephone clinic consultations are safe, efficient and cost effective with good patient satisfaction outcomes. It is an alternative or can be conducted adjunct to face to face consultations with adequate planning, training, good communication skills and proper documentation.
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NewsBot · Feb 23, 2023

Evidence of greater severity of diabetic foot ulcers during COVID-19 pandemic: A real life single-centre cohort study
Stefano Radellini et al
Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2023 Feb 22

Aim: In the Sars-Cov-2 pandemic era patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) manifested more severe forms of Sars-Cov-2 with greater mortality than non-diabetic patients. Several studies documented more aggressive forms of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) during the pandemic period, even though the results were not unanimously confirmed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical-demographic differences between a cohort of Sicilian diabetic patients hospitalized for DFU in the pre-pandemic three years versus a cohort of patients hospitalized in the pandemic two years.

Materials and methods: One hundred and eleven patients from the pre-pandemic period 2017-2019 (Group A) and 86 patients from the pandemic period 2020-2021 (Group B) with DFU, admitted to the division of Endocrinology and Metabolism of the University Hospital of Palermo, were retrospectively evaluated. The clinical assessment of the type, staging and grading of the lesion and the infective complication from DFU was performed.

Results: No differences in HbA1c values were observed between the two groups. Group B showed a significantly higher prevalence of male subjects (p=0.010), neuro-ischemic ulcers (p<0.001), deep ulcers with involvement of bones (p<0.001), white blood count levels (p<0.001), and Reactive C protein (p=0.001) compared to group A.

Conclusions: Our data show that in the COVID-19 pandemic a greater severity of ulcers requiring a significantly greater number of revascularizations and more expensive therapy, but without an increase in the amputation rate, was observed. These data provide novel information on the impact of the pandemic on diabetic foot ulcer risk and progression.
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The Role of Podiatry During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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The Role of Podiatry During the COVID-19 Pandemic

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

The role of podiatry in the early identification and prevention of lower limb venous disease

Podiatry/Biomechanics role available Hobart,Tasmania

Podiatry Advisor Role South Eastern Sydney

Immediate Podiatry role available - 1 day per week - Frankston

Podiatry roles

Grade 2 Podiatry role at cohealth Niddrie - Fixed term

Australian Podiatrist seeking Podiatry Assistant role in Manhattan

Share This Page

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