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Doctors Say Salespeople Can't Diagnose, Treat Problems

Discussion in 'USA' started by admin, Sep 17, 2005.

  1. admin

    admin Administrator Staff Member


    Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
    Following on from the investigation of GoodFeet Stores, we have this investigation from the Denver Channel:
    They even have a video clip from a hidden camera
     
  2. footmedic

    footmedic Active Member

    There is shop in the UK www.profeet.co.uk similar to goodfeet stores also produces orthoses without Podiatrist evaluation. I am sure if hidden camera was place it would reveal the true nature of the selling technique.

    S Maih
     
  3. admin

    admin Administrator Staff Member

    Profeet discussed here
     
  4. davidh

    davidh Podiatry Arena Veteran

    Great article and video clip.

    However, to my mind it highlighted the need for pods to be careful in prescribing too. Certainly in the UK a great many pods now prescribe over-the-counter (OTC) devices in preference to casted devices.

    Somewhere around 90% of UK pods are doing OTC in preference to casted devices (verbal info given to me this week by the head of the biggest manufacturer of OTC devices in the UK).

    I have no way of knowing if pods who routinely prescribe OTC devices carry out diagnostic testing of any kind before prescribing (tests would normally include x-ray if indicated, and/or 2nd opinion in some cases).

    I suspect that in many cases tests may be limited or inappropriate. In fact just a slightly longer version of the "gait analysis" carried out by the Goodfeet Stores.

    Regards,
    davidh
     
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2005
  5. pgcarter

    pgcarter Well-Known Member

    I did something like this for years before I had podiatry training....it is what made me more and more keen to understand better what was happenning.
    The issues revolve closely around the claims you make and the expectations you cultivate in your customers....keep these things well under control and I can't see the problem.

    It is very glib to say that "salespeople" can't diagnose........but what is a surgeon selling when he tells someone they need surgery?....his services for which he will take money......funny about that.
    I don't see all that much difference myself.
    It's just about being careful to stay within the boundaries of your skills.

    Regards Phill Carter
     
  6. Cameron

    Cameron Well-Known Member

    Netizens

    I noticed an advert in the Weekend paper in Perth WA advertising foot orthotic therapy and the source was human movement biomechanists and not a podiatrist in sight.

    Podiatrists have never had exclusivity when it came to foot orthoses on any continent on Earth. That is a myth and unlikely to ever become fact. Ownership may be commendable but no outside authority recognises this and as a profession we need to accept we operate in a highly competative foot health market.

    The specialist study of biomechanics does inform but it also asks more questions that it provides answers for. To date there is no independent evidence to support the use of foot orthotic intervention no matter what quasi logic is proffered. Under these circumstances apparent disadvantage from "inappropriate" foot orthotic prescriptions (and there is little literature available to support this situation exists) must remain insignificant within the general population. Now conditions do apply of course but are rare exceptions and whilst off the peg (OTC) devices continue to match bespoke shells efficaciously, then commercial economics would determine the cheaper the unit costs, the better.

    As an aside, I am reminded of the Consumer's Association (UK) several decades back when they completed a review of Bunion Shields and found no quantitative data to support their use. In the subsequent write up specific comments were made, had more consumers complained of the poor results from their purchases then suppliers would be forced to withdraw bunion shields. In the same way I think we need to be mindful that many foot orthoses end up in a drawer and are never worn, no matter where they are purchased.

    Cameron
    Hey, what do I know?
     
  7. Felicity Prentice

    Felicity Prentice Active Member

    Now conditions do apply of course but are rare exceptions and whilst off the peg (OTC) devices continue to match bespoke shells efficaciously, then commercial economics would determine the cheaper the unit costs, the better.

    Sorry, I just loved that sentence so much I wanted it repeated.

    Cameron is right, we do not have trade rights, jurisdiction or ownership of any kind over orthotics. What we have had, however, is a more thorough and reasoned approach to their prescription and manufacture. (OK, so the theory behind them is looking ever more dodgy, at least we have plenty of happy punters who don't mind empirical over RCTs and who have experienced symptomatic relief).

    We have been careful (usually) to state the limitations of orthotic therapy, thus avoiding the 'cure-all' approach which so often results in ill feeling in clients when reality strikes. We have also taken steps to exclude, compensate, treat and address other conditions present which will not respond to orthotic therapy. By doing this we have kept the whole orthotic thing pretty clean.

    The problem arises not with the Phil Carters of the world - who have always used honesty as a yardstick and sales banner (and most successfully too). The problem is when the term 'orthotic' is used to describe anything shoved in a shoe by anyone regardless of trade, talent or timing. The indiscriminate and uninformed public, when things go wrong, are likely to form a blanket opinion (inevitably negative) about 'orthotics' in general.

    In shoe devices, when recommended and even moulded by non-Pods can be really useful, as the ethical salesperson knows when to refer the punter on for further investigation. It is the unethical lot that endanger our carefully developed and fragile reputation as orthotic therapy practitioners.
     
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