RN/CDE foot exams?

[EGVnurse]

Any RN's or RN/CDE's doing comprehensive foot exams on your patients with diabetes? Including, ankle-brachial index, monofilament testing and tuning fork, etc.

I work in a education-based clinic as a RN Educator now so I don't currently examine people's feet...but we've recently hired an NP and MD so that we will also follow a medical model.

I think it would be a good service to have CDE's do foot exam, while providing education, right in the clinic, and be able to refer out if needed.

I'm just curious if any of you RN's or CDE's are doing this in your practice...and how well it is working for you and your patients. I know I'd have to think more about logistics, billing, more training for staff, knowing who to refer to, etc. Thank you!

[nurseman]

I recently did some training at the Diabetes Education Center (DEC) at the hospital that I work for. Our goal is minimum one foot exam per year. It can either be done at the DEC or their family doctor's office. Inlow's 60-second Diabetic Foot Screen is used.

For logistics: A disposable pad was placed on the floor and we did it with the patient sitting in the office chair.

I don't deal with any billing so I can't help you there.

They showed me how to use the Screen and watched while I did it. I'm trying to get my CDE so I have done some diabetic foot exams in the past.

Here is the link to the screen. I`m not sure if it is used Canada wide. I believe that it is used at all the DECs in Ontario.

http://www.diabetes.ca/CDA/media/documents/clinical-practice-and-education/professional-resources/60-second-diabetic-foot-screen-tool.pdf