Congratulations to Barry Block, DPM, JD, who this week sent out the 1900th consecutive issue of his online publication,  PM News.  Dr. Block is also the Editor of Podiatry Management Magazine.  We are fortunate to have Dr. Block on the FootZine Advisory Board.


~  Gayle

From:  Karen Keathley, PMAC
re:      "Footprint" Scrubs  (Volume 63)

Dear Stacy:

A couple years ago the American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants lost the availability to purchase the foot prints scrubs thru Landau.  The Focus Forward Committee has been researching uniform companies who sell foot print scrubs.  Our hard work paid off.  We found a company called Smart Scrubs at www.smartscrubs.com or 1-800-800-5788.
They sell the following:
Snap dress style #ZP022  $40.95
Basic scrub top style #ZP001 $24.95
Cardigan Jacket style #ZP031  $34.95
If you have any further questions pertaining to foot related items you can contact ASPMA at 888-88-ASPMA or ASPMAEX@aol.com
Happy Shopping!

Karen M. Keathley, PMAC
Membership Chair, ASPMA

*_*    *_*    *_*

From:  Maggie Bova
re:      Region III Assistants' Program

Dear Gayle,

My podiatrist has received a flyer from APMA stating that there is no assistants program in Region III this year.  I was informed that the national association for assistants was running it and there is a seminar for assistants.  Can you please let me know if there is or isn't so that I may pass it on to the other members of NJPMAA?
 
Thank you ,

Maggie
Vice President NJPMAA

*_*    *_*    *_*

From:  Jessica Skeen
re:      Association Membership and Certification

Hi, Gayle!!

My name is Jessica Skeen.  I am from Monmouth, Il.  I was wondering about the Medical Assistant program.  I wanted to know how if I join the association do we stay in good standing.  I was also wondering what type of assistants is this for.  Is it strictly for coder/billers, or is it for nursing medical assistants.  I have only worked in the Podiatry for 6 months, but I love it.  My Podiatrist recommended that I look into the certification.  I know that I have to work in the profession for a year, before I can become certified.  I thank you for your time.

Thank You,
Jessica Skeen

*_*    *_*    *_*

From:  Gaibrielle Hauff, PMAC
re:      Washington State Annual Meeting

Goodevening Gayle,

I just read the latest issue of FootZine and noticed that you are not advertising the April 16, 17 and 18th meeting [WSPMA and WSPMAA] in Spokane, WA.  Please tell the readers that it is at the Davenport Hotel (rooms filling fast) and we have EXCELLENT speakers for the assistants to enjoy and this is definitely one not to be missed.  Tell the readers that we are very, very lucky to have Lynn Homisak speaking again, and she will have useful tips for the office.

We also have Carol McKay, who is from Yakima.  She is going to give a motivational speech on "Getting off the couch and making things happen" - tips on helping you get motivated.  She is currently a Weight Watchers coach and definitely knows how to motivate people.  She is awesome!!

We are also looking to hold to the certification exam for anyone who wants to take the test.  So please speak now, or miss out.  There will be someone flying up from California to administer the exam.  We have confirmed one test taker so far.  This will be an excellent meeting this year.

Gaibrielle Hauff, PMAC
President, WSPMAA

*_*    *_*    *_*

From:  Jonathan Breux
re:      Becoming a Podiatric Assistant

How do I start the process of finding out how to become a podiatric medical assistant?  I am in New York and have been an ABC Certified Orthotist for 12 years.
 
Thanks,

Jonathan
jbreux@hotmail.com

Sometimes it almost sounds like a cliché, when a client has a hard drive crash and they proclaim, “Not to worry, we have a backup”.  In almost 75% of cases I find that the back-up is no good.  Backing up your data is so critical, yet most offices never pay it the attention it deserves.  I am often asked “How often should I back up?”  The answer is easy: how much data are you willing to lose?  A day’s worth, a week, a month.  How much does it cost you to back up your data vs. how much would it cost you to recreate your data?

As a matter of daily routine, a backup should be done everyday, with a set being taken off-site at least monthly, if not weekly, in case of a disaster at the office.  But the backup procedure should be more than one person blindly pulling a tape out of the computer and replacing it with a new one.  At this point you have no idea if that tape is any good.  You must look at the back up log and verify that the back up occurred, that the back up size looks proper and that the directories backed up are the ones with your data.

I just ran into a case where a client had a brand new computer system installed and a back-up system put in place and the scheduler set up to do automatic back-ups at night, so the whole procedure is hands-off for the staff.  One day while I was in the office I was asked to take a look at the back-up and check to see that the back-ups were valid.  To my client’s surprise, the back-up had not run in three months.  It turns out that the company that installed and configured the back-up did not realize that there is a glitch in the Microsoft Windows 2000 back-up scheduler: it doesn’t work!  Here is a typical case where the client is going about their businesses thinking that they are protected from data loss.

I have seen similar cases where the tapes themselves are no good, the back-up program is logging the error, but nobody is watching the log and the situation continues until the day comes when they need to restore their data.

Aside from the obvious reason for backing up, to prevent the loss of your data, did you know that back-ups and back-up testing procedures are mandated by HIPAA and will be in effect and enforceable come April 2005?  Under the data integrity requirements of HIPAA you are required to back up your data, verify through measurable means that the back-up is valid, and maintain a back-up set off-site for disaster recovery under your contingency plan.

This all sounds like a lot of work and effort when all we really want to do is treat patients. Now we have to manage a data center as well, or we have to contract out to have a computer company come on-site and perform these tasks.  That gets real expensive.  So, what is a practical solution?

The answer is off-site internet-based back-ups.  With the widespread availability of broadband connections and inexpensive storage, this back-up method is rapidly becoming the back-up method of choice.  The advantages are many.  First, this back-up method is truly hands-off for the staff and requires no time or effort on their part, thus making them more available for your practice.  The increase in staff productivity more than covers the cost of the service.  Second, every back-up is off-site, thus providing the disaster protection that is so important.  Third, the remote back-up service generates a back up log every day giving you all of the back-up statistics your need to be sure your back ups are complete and valid.  Fourth, the logs are E-mailed to you everyday, so you have hard copy proof that you exercised due diligence in protecting your data. 

The big question regarding off-site back-ups is, are they secure?  The answer is yes.  The back-up system uses a client software program that uses a 428-bit blowfish encryption method (that is thus far totally uncrackable).  The file is encrypted and compressed, then transferred off-site.  The back up file is only restorable through the use of a restore key located on the remote server, thus giving you a double redundancy to protect your data.  You back-up logs are also monitored by trained professionals who can spot problems long before they become big problems.

If this back-up method sounds right for your practice and you would like more information, please contact the AAPPM Technology Advisor, Raymond Posa at Rposa@Rfrancis.com or call him at 732-919-0944.


By: Raymond F. Posa, MBA
Technology Advisor to the American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management
President, R. Francis Associates

Any questions or comments can be addressed to Mr. Posa by E-mail: Rposa@Rfrancis.com
Or visit WWW.NJHIPAA.COM


*_*

"Smile: a curve that can set many things straight."   (not attributed)

*_*

The Question:

Gayle, please help. Anthem has recently started to reject the paring of plantar warts. What code can we use to be reimbursed for this.
Thanks,

Linda Casella, PMA
Exeter, NH


The Answer:

We have had success using benign neoplasm of skin (216.7) as the primary diagnosis and pain in foot (729.5) as the secondary diagnosis with the wart destruction codes (17000-17004)


Crystal-Clear Coding tips by Dr. Ward are posted on the FootZine web site on this page:
http://www.footzine.com/FZ_C.htm


*_*

"Las cosas claras y el chocolate espeso. (Ideas should be clear and chocolate thick.)"  -  seen on "Virtual Chocolate" web site, attributed to "Spanish proverb"

*_*

There's never not a good time for chocolate, but this time of year, there seems to be more of it around, and the merchants bring out their best versions of it.   Maybe it's to make up for the lack of sunshine.  I'm looking forward to the opening  -  "Soon!"  -  of the new Chocolate-and-Coffee place only two blocks from my office!  And as always, looking forward to your letters.

 ~ Gayle

Copyright 2004 Gayle S. Johnson. All Rights Reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Acceptance and publication of any letter, article, news item or advertisement does not necessarily constitute or imply approval or endorsement by myself of the product, idea, or content therein. I reserve the right to edit or to not publish any material received. Any letters published are the property of FootZine. Any health- or legal- and financial- related information is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, legal or financial advice, or a substitute for the advice of a healthcare professional, attorney, financial advisor or any other consultant or professional. Information pertaining to legal matters should not perceived as legal advice, nor should discussion about such issues as Medicare, coding, and billing be considered as definitive. All content is presented as being only the opinions of the contributors and is for educational purposes only.

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe, simply send your email request to me at: gaylejohnson@footzine.com or footzine@comcast.net

http://www.footzine.com/FZ-subscribe.htm
or
http://home.comcast.net/~gaylesjohnson/GSJ-web-subscribe.htm