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FootZine,
Volume 88 |
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We appreciate all those who
write with questions and responses, as well as our
regular contributors, so that we have material to
share with you. Just a reminder, prompted by local news stories, that flu season is here and those of us in health care should get our flu shots as soon as they are available. It's well worth the small investment of time and money to stay healthy. ~ Gayle
*_* Letters
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From: Barry H. Block, DPM,
JDre: Practice Valuation (Volume 87) Because of the complexities involved, there is no rule-of-thumb that works well in valuating a practice. Many considerations must be factored in which simply cannot be put into a simple formula. Net, however, is a much more reliable measure than gross. This is because three different practices can each gross $250,000 but the net on #1 can be $150,000, the net on #2 $100,000, and the net on Number 3 $50,000. Using gross, the valuation would be the same, but obviously practice #1 is worth far more than practice #3.
A practice appraiser will look at the type of
practice, new patient growth,
*_* Calendar
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Just a reminder that upcoming
seminars for podiatric assistants are posted on the
Calendar page of the FootZine web site.
Adding your seminar information is as easy as
sending me an email with the specifics. The
current listings can be found at:
*_* Crystal-Clear
Coding Q & A *_*
The Question:by Rick Horsman, DPM, and Scott Schroeder, DPM Need CPT code for this [hemi implant] procedure, can you help? SuzyQ The Answer: A bunionectomy with implant of any configuration (hinged, hemi, etc) would be CPT 28293. There is NO CPT code for a lesser MPJ or IPJ implant. You would have to used the unlisted code CPT 28899. It is suggested you submit the claim with documentation, and offer a similar procedure which DOES have a code, so as to approximate value Rick Horsman, DPM Crystal-Clear Coding tips are posted on the FootZine web site on this page: http://www.footzine.com/FZ_C.htm
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My husband, a photographer, has
a little sign that he made and placed on the wall of
his darkroom. He can’t recall the source of
the quote he put on it, which reads, “The true
scales are internal”. He says it is a
reminder to him that while photography is very much
an absolute science there is also a lot that is
variable and subjective. There is a
realization that comes from experience, that the
technology of times, temperatures and dilutions is
tempered by artistic interpretation and intention.Thoughts on Certification by Gayle S. Johnson I find that quote’s expression of enlightenment appropriate to the understanding of what certification really means. A test, any test, is intended to be a benchmark of the facts we may know about a given subject. No test is perfect and you may recall the historic failure of certain standardized tests to really evaluate aptitude or at least in an equitable way across the population. Rather than rehash that topic, I would suggest that certification is really a symbol of something deeper and …. internal. Over the years, I have often said that certification signifies that one has achieved a certain level of competence and knowledgeability. I have urged podiatric assistants to strive for that symbol of excellence, and urged their employers to encourage them in those efforts. I have always maintained that this should be a personal goal, a measure of one’s professional growth, not just part of a job description. Typical preparation for an exam might be to study material that is likely to be covered in hopes of being able to give correct responses to the questions asked. The expectation is to get enough correct answers to pass the test, and perhaps actually learn about that subject through the process. My own experience in preparing for certification was that by studying diligently, we learned far more about each category than was included in the test. I considered that a positive thing, and the information gained at that time has proved useful even many years later. Situations arise in the real world that test our abilities to interpret from that acquired pool of knowledge in many different ways than the questions presented on an exam, so that we really do need to “know our stuff”. There is a definite distinction between what we truly know and what we remember from a few days or hours before. And certainly knowledge and the certification of that knowledge need to be ongoing and evolving. A podiatric assistant with many years’ experience doing plaster casting or coding insurance claims is going to excel in those areas, while someone fresh out of school with exposure to the latest computer or other technologies may be able to comprehend things that some others may struggle with. So a true test must address diverse ranges and levels of experiences. The real goal and, I believe, the value of certification, is that we fully comprehend the subject matter so that we are able to apply what we have learned to our day-to-day experience. I also believe that certification symbolizes something else, an attitude of commitment. It can represent a commitment to an ideal of professionalism and personal professional growth. In that regard, certification is a reflection of something inside us, like those internal scales, but alive and changing, not merely the result of a long-ago exam and certificate that we got from a particular entity. If you seek out knowledge, heed the words of Alexander Pope and “drink deep” from that spring.** Books are a great resource and starting point, but draw from as many different experiences as you can. Try to attend seminars when available, resisting the urge to sight-see or shop rather than attend a lecture on some topic you may perceive as sounding boring. Challenge yourself to return home with new knowledge gained from each speaker. Aspire to and achieve these things, and trust your internal scales as the true test of your accomplishment. ** “A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, and drinking largely sobers us again. …..” - from “An Essay on Criticism”, Alexander Pope (1688-1744)
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The shorter days of Fall leave
me wishing for more daylight, but enjoying the
brilliant reds and oranges showing up on our trees.
As we settle into the Fall routines, we expect to
return to weekly publication of FootZine, so
remember to write! ~ Gayle
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Copyright
2004 Gayle S. Johnson. All Rights Reserved. or click
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