I’ve had a nagging foot injury so I called up my blue cross plan to get a referral. They want me to see my GP first, then she said I’ll get a referral to a physician’s assistant or a podiatrist. I made a comment something along the lines of “can’t I see a real doctor first” and the lady told me I have to see my GP and he’ll either authorize it or not, but I most likely won’t see a real doctor.
Is an orthopedic doctor a better doctor to see for my foot and should I fight for a referral, or should I just settle for the podiatrist? I don’t really care who sees it so long as it gets fixed. Of course gnawing at the back of my mind is if the podiatrist was any good he’d be a real doctor, maybe snobbish on my part, but I pay $700 month for insurance, so I want my moneys worth.
LOL! Better go to your local ENT then for that tooth extraction …
I don’t know, 4 years undergrad, 4 years professional school, 3 years residency, state medical board, govt definition of physician, DEA licensure, hospital staff, etc.
How about seeing someone who properly diagnoses and treats first, eh? My poor friend who are GPs/Internists (I use that term literally compared to my salary) only wish they had my foresight … Good luck!
Podiatrists go to one of eight US podiatry medicine schools. They are four years, as is medical school, but you come out with a DPM, not an MD. They also have a residency requirement for licensing and board certification, just like MDs, but their requirements are slightly shorter than an MD since they are subspecializing in just the ankle and foot. As an MD, I would recommend a podiatrist if you have a foot problem that does not require surgery over an orthopedist.
…I don’t know, 4 years undergrad, 4 years professional school, 3 years residency, state medical board, govt definition of physician, DEA licensure, hospital staff, etc.
real doctors? surly you jest. i pretty much run straight to mine with nearly every medical topic we encounter around here. he is brilliant and gifted! (raise the RROOF!
go see a good doc. just like anything, there are amazing docs, and others that are just…not.
I’m not sure if you’re being sarcastic or not, but I looked in my plan and there’s orthopedic doctors that are members of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, and I assumed that they would be appropriate for me. These weren’t podiatrists. I was just wondering if it would be beneficial to get a referral to one of these guys instead of a podiatrist. In order for me to see one, I would need a referral, and that may not be a fight I need to engage in.
Given the uncanny resemblance to Doogie Howser, MD, I’d have to submit that podiatrists are in fact, **not **real doctors. They are just made up for TV.
Racerman,
I don’t know why you started this thread … but for the sake of clarity the title “doctor” can be used by many people. That would include physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, faith healers, naturopaths, PhD’s of many backgrounds, and doctors of divinity … probably others as well that I’ve not mentioned. When you offer services to the public for a fee, you must be very specific in listing your educational background … or bad things will happen to you if you practice outside your licensure (like go to jail!). A physician (MD or DO) will list themselves as such or as a physician and surgeon. A podiatrist must list themselves as a podiatrist.
There are many podiatrists who practice very excellent care of foot problems … I suspect that includes rroof (I don’t know him personally). There are also fewer physicians who practice as foot and ankle orthopedic specialists … also generally very good at foot problems as well. I generally refer forefoot problems to podiatrists and ankle/ lower leg problems to f/a orthopedists … there are also licensure related limitations to extent of surgery that podiatrists can perform (varies by state). I personally would seek my own care along those lines, but there are indeed many podiatrists who perform very excellent ankle care.
I would only take exception to rroofs assertion that as an internist I would like to be a podiatrist … no, I wouldn’t thank you! But I am pleased that you enjoy what you do.
Your referral inquiry seemed unusual for BC plans. Generally you don’t need a formal referral with BC to see a network specialist and would have little reason therefore to see you “PCP” for that … unless you just needed help deciding who to see (often a wise choice!). I suspect either choice of a well recommended doctor … podiatrist or physician would get you excellent care for your problem. Healthplan “information” people often provide rather corny advice.
Dave
Elaine: I don’t know. We got into this whole thing about how podiatrists
aren’t real doctors.
Jerry: How could you say that?
Elaine: It’s you fault. You just got me thinking.
Jerry: I was merely speaking extemporaneously.
Elaine: I’ve got nothing against the foot. I’m pro-foot.
Jerry: Me too.
Elaine: Do you think I should call him and apologize?
Jerry: Yes. He’s a doctor.
Find a good Orthopedic Foot and ankle specialist. One who swims, bikes, or runs himself so does not completely believe in the motto “heal with steel”, or “to cut is to cure”. I spend time in the OR with both, and would never go to a podiatrist. Obviously they will argue, but this is my 2 cents and thats what you asked for.
Actually “real doctors” are PhDs. The term doctor came from there. Westerm Medical science is only about 250 years old, where as doctors of Philosophy came way before that. Medical training 125 years ago was in mostly the form of on the job training. Modern medicine as we know it came mostly after WW1.
Poditrists ave there place in medicine, and that is usually below the knee, unless you are talking orthotics which may help cure ills way up to the upper C-spine. A sports poditrist is like a gold nugget, find one and keep it.
I am sure there are better Poditrists than others, but at least they should know their way around the ankle and foot pretty well. An Ortho MD that mostly works on backs or hands may not be my 1st choice for a foot issue. Just because a guy has MD behind his name does not make him the final word on your issues. Someone did finish last in his residency. My advice is if they say cut first, get a second. I gots no problems with seeing a poditrist for foot/lower leg issues.
This is true. The only real doctorate degree is a PHD. The term Dr. was given to the medical profession as a courtesy and at one time the family physicians/generalists were called “Dr.” while the specialists were called by the more prestigious “Mr.”
There are a number of professions that can now legally call themselves “Dr.” besides medical physicians such as podiatrists, dentists, chiropractors and optometrists. A podiatrist is in reality a limited practitionor dealing with feet as is a dentist (teeth), chiropractor (muscuo-skeletal) and optometrist (eyes).
Poditrists ave there place in medicine, and that is usually below the knee…
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podiatrists are the one you want for anything below the ankle. If I had a heart condition, I would probably trust St’s own Doc Roof more than the local cardiologist.
Is an orthopedic doctor a better doctor to see for my foot and should I fight for a referral, or should I just settle for the podiatrist? I don’t really care who sees it so long as it gets fixed. Of course gnawing at the back of my mind is if the podiatrist was any good he’d be a real doctor, maybe snobbish on my part, but I pay $700 month for insurance, so I want my moneys worth.
Interesting you should ask. A few months ago, I had a fight with my HMO because they were trying to refer me to a general orthopedic doctor for a foot injury. I wanted a doctor who specialized in foot/ankle injuries. I’m very insistent, so I won the argument. It took the podiatrist two minutes to figure out that my mysterious ailment (which made it very painful to walk and which I feared was a fallen metatarsal) was just plantar fascitis (spelling?) presenting itself in an odd way. He recommended OTC orthotic inserts and within a few days, I set a PR in a 5K.
