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Podiatry is one of Australia’s most in-demand medical practices. Statistics have consistently revealed a glaring national shortage of podiatrists, posing a monumental challenge to the country’s healthcare system.

According to the Podiatry Board of Australia (PBA), there were slightly over 6,100 registered podiatrists in the country as of July 2024. That number pales in comparison to the thousands of people seeking treatment for foot and ankle complications, particularly if you consider that not all registered podiatrists are actually practicing.

Unfortunately, the critical shortage of podiatrists doesn’t only limit access to essential medical services availed by these practitioners. It also exposes the sector to malicious actors, including quacks who operate with the sole intention of defrauding innocent and unsuspecting patients. Therefore, extra due diligence is paramount when looking for a podiatrist in your area.

This post examines the six strategies to find and evaluate a reputable podiatrist near you.

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1. Determine Whether You Need a Podiatrist or Orthopaedic Surgeon

This is one critical aspect that many patients often skimp on, only to realize later that they consulted the wrong practitioner. Before you run an internet search for the phrase ‘podiatrist near me,’ ask yourself – do I need a podiatrist or orthopedic surgeon?

Simply put, you require podiatrist care if you suffer from foot and ankle conditions, which may necessitate surgical or non-surgical treatments. Common conditions podiatrists treat include;

• Foot and ankle injuries
• Toe deformities
• Ingrown toenails
• Foot and ankle arthritis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Bunions
• Diabetic-related foot problems

 

Meanwhile, orthopedics deals with conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system throughout the body, including the bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments.

2. Insist On a Duly Trained and Highly Specialised Podiatrist

Now that you’ve determined your condition requires podiatric and not orthopedic care, you can proceed to narrow down your search accordingly.

Searching for the phrase ‘best podiatrist near me’ will pull up dozens of clinics in your location. However, you’ll want to look into each professional’s training before proceeding.

All podiatrists in Australia must possess at least an undergraduate degree in podiatry from a reputable university. That’s an excellent starting point. But to narrow your search further, pick someone specialized in specific areas of podiatry.

For instance, a sports podiatrist is your best bet if you suffer a sports-related foot or ankle injury. Other common areas of specialization in podiatry include pediatric and surgical podiatry.

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3. Inquire About License and Professional Affiliations

Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in podiatry is one thing, but it’s completely different from being a licensed practitioner.

License is legal proof that a podiatrist is qualified and authorized to practice. In fact, it’s illegal to operate a podiatric clinic in Australia without a proper license and registration by the Podiatry Board of Australia.

So, after rounding up a few potential podiatrists, look them up on the PBA website to ascertain that they’re authorized to practice.

The site maintains a powerful search functionality that makes it incredibly easy to locate a podiatrist in your local town. You can filter by location radius, name of the practice (if known), last name of the podiatrist (if known), languages spoken, etc.

4. Look For Stellar Experience

Experience relates to the duration a podiatrist has been practicing. While it’s imperative to choose an academically qualified and duly licensed podiatrist, you don’t want to be their first client.

Insist on a clinic that has been in operation for at least five years and enjoys impeccable feedback from most of its previous and current patients.

You can vouch for a podiatrist’s experience by sampling online reviews and testimonials. Alternatively, ask the professional for some references and personally contact such individuals to inquire about their experience working with the podiatrist.

Better yet, choose someone who has acquired continued professional development through attending seminars, publishing peer-reviewed articles, creating online courses, etc.

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5. Research Their Treatment Methodologies

All podiatrists diagnose and treat various diseases of the foot and ankles. However, they differ considerably in their approach and methodology.

Some conditions may require prescribing medications straightaway. For others, extensive diagnostic tests (including X-rays or imaging scans) must precede any prescriptions.

The field of podiatry has notably benefited immensely from cutting-edge medical technologies. One such breakthrough is regenerative medicine, which accelerates foot healing by relying on biologics like stem cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

Others include 3D orthotics printing, smart wearables for remote patient tracking, telemedicine for distant medical consultations, etc. Understand how each methodology might impact your recovery.

6. Inquire About the Practitioner’s Availability

We’re not always in the best shape while seeking podiatric care. Therefore, a podiatrist should be available when you need them.

Waiting for hours in the queue to have your sprained muscle attended to is not exactly a pleasant experience.

While you’d be wary of choosing a podiatrist who only has you as their client, you want someone who can always fit you into their schedule.

Besides, insist on a podiatrist who tailors each treatment plan to suit your needs. The professional should be flexible enough to adopt suitable approaches depending on your recovery stage. It’s even better if they offer aftercare services.

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Wrap Up

Australia may be grappling with a dire shortage of podiatrists. However, the bigger challenge for patients with foot and ankle problems is choosing the most qualified and experienced podiatrist from the roughly 6,100 practitioners spread throughout the country.

We hope you can implement these pointers the next time you go scouting for a podiatrist in your area.