We are certainly not alone on the anti-protection front, with all healthcare markets being open and deregulated to allow a free and market-based system to drive demand and set prices.
Well that is how a politician may explain an open and transparent market. There is however one glaringly obvious exception; Pharmacies.
Here in Queensland like all other states, pharmacies remain the last truly protected species (and it doesn’t hurt that they have the backing of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia).
The guild is responsible for representing community pharmacies, and according to the Guild’s website (www.guild.org.au) this numbers approximately 5700 pharmacies responsible for some 300 million prescriptions every year!
Well that is how a politician may explain an open and transparent market. There is however one glaringly obvious exception; Pharmacies.
Here in Queensland like all other states, pharmacies remain the last truly protected species (and it doesn’t hurt that they have the backing of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia).
The guild is responsible for representing community pharmacies, and according to the Guild’s website (www.guild.org.au) this numbers approximately 5700 pharmacies responsible for some 300 million prescriptions every year!
Adding to the layers of protection that have helped them fight off repeated attacks from another juggernaut of a ‘union’, the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, is state based legislation.
Here in Queensland it is the Pharmacy Business Ownership Act of 2001. Of which, Section 139B of the Act states that a person should not own a pharmacy unless the person is…yep you guessed it…a pharmacist.
So, the world of podiatric medicine, like all other free trading markets within and external to healthcare must rely solely on our professional credibility.
Here in Queensland it is the Pharmacy Business Ownership Act of 2001. Of which, Section 139B of the Act states that a person should not own a pharmacy unless the person is…yep you guessed it…a pharmacist.
So, the world of podiatric medicine, like all other free trading markets within and external to healthcare must rely solely on our professional credibility.
We rely on our standards and of course our superior diagnostic and prescription abilities.
There will be very little help from legislative assemblies, our colleagues of all medical and para medical fields (as some may well be our direct foot orthoses competitors) and other mythical creatures.Ray Kroc the charismatic and talented man from where McDonalds that we all know and tolerate today comes from, had a great saying regarding his business. “Look after the customer and the business will take care of itself.”
Now more than ever before, in order to make sure that we take care of our ‘customers’, diagnoses must be sharper and more decisive.
Treatment plans more tailored.
And, the prescription that you make, must be more inclusive and respectful of all the wonderful advances of biomechanical research that we enjoy today.
No longer is it suitable (arguably it never was) to mark prescription forms with the same rearfoot values that have been used time and time again, irrespective of the pathology that the orthotic is intended to treat.
Nor will our profession fight off the onslaught of non-podiatric medical folk doing a weekend heat moulded orthotic course, with ‘at lab discretion’ scribbled on a duplicated proforma.
Specific diagnoses backed up by imaging, haematology and good old-fashioned clinical experience is what is needed.
Anyone of you that has had the same pleasure that I enjoy in my clinics, of working with undergraduate students (and if you don’t I highly recommend that you do, as they learn as much from our experience as they do from our learned academics at the universities) will know all too well the discussion of pes planus as a diagnosis.
As the primary health professionals for the foot and lower limb in the community, it falls to professional podiatrists to understand the differences between position, motion and pathology. And, ultimately the interplay between these factors, that when dealt with appropriately and scientifically will result in the motions being contained, the forces being managed and the pathology resolving. But even more so, the patient being able to return to their daily activities and reach their individual lifestyle goals.
Nor will our profession fight off the onslaught of non-podiatric medical folk doing a weekend heat moulded orthotic course, with ‘at lab discretion’ scribbled on a duplicated proforma.
Specific diagnoses backed up by imaging, haematology and good old-fashioned clinical experience is what is needed.
Anyone of you that has had the same pleasure that I enjoy in my clinics, of working with undergraduate students (and if you don’t I highly recommend that you do, as they learn as much from our experience as they do from our learned academics at the universities) will know all too well the discussion of pes planus as a diagnosis.
As the primary health professionals for the foot and lower limb in the community, it falls to professional podiatrists to understand the differences between position, motion and pathology. And, ultimately the interplay between these factors, that when dealt with appropriately and scientifically will result in the motions being contained, the forces being managed and the pathology resolving. But even more so, the patient being able to return to their daily activities and reach their individual lifestyle goals.
The podiatrist team at Quantum, lead by Matt Hayter, are always passionate about podiatric medicine and pathology and take every opprotunity to dicuss approaches with our referring practitioners.
So, whether it is an unusual case; a non resolving pathology; or, just a chance to chew the fat for an hour and disucss prescription options, always feel free to give us a call. (Matt is availble on 0418 760 389).
Our purpose is to give pateints their freedoms of choice back. The choice to take the kids for a walk and be pain free or to run a half marathon, it really doesn’t matter the goal.
Quantum is your link, between an accurate diagnosis, a well-developed treatment plan and your patient's physical success.
So, whether it is an unusual case; a non resolving pathology; or, just a chance to chew the fat for an hour and disucss prescription options, always feel free to give us a call. (Matt is availble on 0418 760 389).
Our purpose is to give pateints their freedoms of choice back. The choice to take the kids for a walk and be pain free or to run a half marathon, it really doesn’t matter the goal.
Quantum is your link, between an accurate diagnosis, a well-developed treatment plan and your patient's physical success.
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