11/11/2014    

RESPONSES/COMMENTS (CODINGLINE CORNER)

RE: Bilateral Night Splints (Paul Kesselman, DPM)

From: Bret Ribotsky, DPM

 

I disagree with my friend Dr. Kesselman on his response about having a patient split the wearing of a night splint between legs. Really? Have we all just bowed down to the "insurance gods" and given in? I am sure if Paul were to come down with plantar fasciitis, he would sleep with two splints.  

 

Maybe the next time I get my eyes checked and they find only a problem with one eye, the doctor will prescribe a monocle. Maybe if I have a patient with a wound on both legs, I could share the VAC one day left, one day right. Please, we must never lose sight of the fact that we must do what is best for the patient. If the insurance company only wants to pay for one night splint, I leave it up to the patient to complain to the insurance gods. I tell the patient that this is the cost of the second splint and have them get it. The motivated patient wants to get better quickly, and the physician who treats patients to a speedy recovery will have a significant advantage today and in the future.

 

Bret Ribotsky, DPM, Boca Raton, FL, Ribotsky@gmail.com