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Looking for input on house calls within the podiatry profession. Pros, cons, encouragement?
SouthPod

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What would you like to know exactly about them?

Cheers Nick

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Nick

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Those without humour are at the mercy of the rest of us!

Also, where are you, Southpod?

Make sure that you work out the most comfortable working position. Over the years I have found the best is for me to kneel, with my back straight and the patients foot on a low stool or table. (hard on the knees though)Carry a powerful little lamp, as rooms can be gloomy. Ask for pets to be shut away, they love sniffing around your visiting box.
Home visits are very tiring, much more so than clinical work, so don't book too many in a day.
On a positive note, the actual work is usually pretty straightforward as many patients are housebound so feet not overused, the patients are usually very pleased to see you.
I have a number of older colleagues who have ruined their backs and necks through home visiting, so try to combine it with work in a comfortable clinic.
Hope this helps, Liz

I have done home visits for 12 years and last year opened my own surgery in Bournemouth. Home visits are hard work and mean you can do less appointments than in a surgery. I have a child size folding chair for myself and a good sturdy footrest for the patient, as well as one bag for instruments and disposables and another with my bin and paperwork. I chose a rechargeable battery drill to save wires and restrictions on where you can work. I cut a shower curtain into six rectangular pieces to catch bits, (after years of research this is the best matting).
I never intended to do home visits for such a long time, as it is not good for the health, so suggest you try to gain premises of some sort as soon as possible. Home visits are mostly elderly, so leave time for a few minutes chat. You might be the only person they see that day, so a few extra minutes to talk face to face, (rather than staring at their foot) can go a long way. I still do home visits, but am only taking on new ones if the person is house bound of finds it very difficult to travel. Don't fall into the trap of charging less for home visits because your overheads are lower, you will be able to do between three and six patients less per day, depending on how long you leave between patients, (in surgery and on the road) so you have to make up far that in your charges.

All of this is my opinion of course, you must do as you see fit.