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Walking through Westfield Hornsby saturday i passed one of the nail bars and watched as many f the staff were debriding plantar callus using what looked like an apple peeler type of implement.
Now i thought this was not acceptable in Australia as only Podiatrists reg with Aus Pod Council are allowed to debide tissue on the foot.
Correct me if i am wrong.
So what can be done to ensure that Podiatric care is provided by Podiatrists, and Podiatrists only.
So what can be done to ensure that Podiatric care is provided by Podiatrists, and Podiatrists only
Not much. Most of the Australian State Reg Acts protect only title, not scope of practice. Already GPs, Nurses, Physios, Orthotists, Personal Care Attendants, boimechanists and others provide some level of foot care.
__________________ Stephen Tucker Eastern Health
Podiatry Manager
Just a small point of clarity as an orthotist... we do treat many foot issues mechanically, but generally debriding HK isn't usually included within the scope of practice of a P&O. There may be hospitals where this occurs, but usually only as part of a multi-disciplinary clinic.
__________________
Dr Richard Chasen
B.P.&O., B.Pod (Hons). M.A.Pod.A.
Master of Health Science (Pod)
Podiatrist
Foot & Ankle Orthotist
Robert, I did have a beautician once ask me to teach her to use a scalpel for debridement and, since she was a friend, I ummed, ah-ed and politely mentioned that she didn't have sterile instruments. She held up a disinfectant bottle and informed me that she had "sterilising spray".
Incidentally, I've also seen the apple peeler device, and the blade doesn't get changed between patients...
... and here we are bagging and autoclaving everything... sigh... all those rainforests...
__________________
Dr Richard Chasen
B.P.&O., B.Pod (Hons). M.A.Pod.A.
Master of Health Science (Pod)
Podiatrist
Foot & Ankle Orthotist
. She held up a disinfectant bottle and informed me that she had "sterilising spray".
Incidentally, I've also seen the apple peeler device, and the blade doesn't get changed between patients...
Thats my real objection --- its not that they are doing it (and there is very little or nothing that can be done to stop it) .... its the fact that the 'playing field' is not level. I am required to function in an environment that is controlled by legislation to protect the public (ie registration; minimal entry qualification; infection control standards; etc) and they are not. This imposes a greater cost structure on me that is not imposed on them. Level the playing field and see if they still want to do it.
__________________
Craig Payne
Department of Podiatry
La Trobe University
Melbourne, Australia http://www.latrobe.edu.au/podiatry
__________________________________________________ ___________________________________ God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things - right now I am so far behind, I will never die.
The views expressed above are those of the author and not that of La Trobe University This is where I am, where are you?
Thats my real objection --- its not that they are doing it (and there is very little or nothing that can be done to stop it) .... its the fact that the 'playing field' is not level. I am required to function in an environment that is controlled by legislation to protect the public (ie registration; minimal entry qualification; infection control standards; etc) and they are not. This imposes a greater cost structure on me that is not imposed on them. Level the playing field and see if they still want to do it.
Did I just see an animate object banging its head against a wall? I think I'd better stop taking all them Apros!
Last edited by scottneyturbill : 8th October 2007 at 11:12 PM.
Reason: Addendum
I have been told about something called the "Skin penetration Act" which I was told is legislation in relation to any profession doing anything likely to penetrate the skin barrier: piercing, tatoos etc....no liscence...no sharp tools...no public liability insurance. I have been told by the ANF that nurses are only insured to do things they have accredited training to do....they are not trained to use scalpels by accredited training courses unless they have done something extra. And finding out what may be considered "accredited" is a nightmare, nobody will tell you. The ANF says the underwriter will have to decide, the underwriter says the ANF will have to decide.....I think it will be very grey until someone gets sued and then the judge will decide, and after that the rest of us will have some idea.
regards Phill Carter