Foot care training

[kernow]

I have been interested in starting a foot care service for some time now and after reading posts from LoisJean feel this is something I can do. I would like to start out by receiving some kind of training but cannot find anyone who provides this type of course.

I have been in touch with LoisJean who has given me wonderful information about becoming an independent provider performing foot/nail care however I would like to take a course of some description to make myself more prefessional. I found a course titled "Foot & Nail care for Nurses" which sounds absolutely perfect but it is Wisconsin and I live in New York, I cannot find anything else closer to home.

If anyone has crossed this bridge already and can offer any advice I would be extremely grateful.

[Deborah Clark]

Hi, I'm wondering if LoisJean ever produced the video tape she spoke about on some early pages. I'm looking to purchase a video for our library on foot care for seniors and I'm not finding many current materials. Found this site while searching the web. Thanks!!

[Ciege911]

Uncertain about the video Deborah, I have not seen anything while searching the net on foot care. If you can swing it, the Emory Foot care course was excellent and offers hands on clinical. If you could send a nurse, they will most likely be able to perform the lions share of foot care in your facility and or train others. Sadly though, one of their educators has moved to Florida. If you do happen to come across a video--please post. Thanks!!!!!!!!!

[Deborah Clark]

Hi Ciege, I actually work in a library that serves the long term care community in the province of Alberta. We also provide materials to educators training staff to work in LTC, so we do actually have a few training videos for foot care, but nothing current. One of our videotapes came back mangled last week so I'm trying to replace it, just not finding anything out there and was very hopeful when I saw a post that said someone here was producing one. MAVC (Medical Audiovisual Communications) does actually have a couple of videos that we have here in our collection: Foot Assessment and Care; and Hand, Foot and Nail Care. The second has been updated and we'll probably get it but I was hoping for more. Did the Emory foot care course use videos? Thanks!!

[lanideleon]

Foot care is so important because improper or insufficient care can lead to amputation and loss of independence. WE know this but do the payers appreciate this enough to pay for these services? BUT, if the patient is diabetic (and who ISN'T anymore?)while you are there assessing, teaching, caring, you also measured the foot, ordered some diabetic shoes and inserts and billed Medicare - well NOW you're worth your while with the income to prove it.

I love nursing but I also love to eat and appreciate that roof over my head. I am SO glad I started this diabetic shoe business. The products are medical equipment and NEED to be paired with care and teaching. This is perfect a perfect business for a nurse with entrepreneurial talent. I recommend it.

Hi, I just want to find out , was it very hard for you to get a provider no. so you can bill medicare and medicaid? Can you please tell me how you did it? thanks.

[Ciege911]

Emmory was all power point. I will do some more looking today in regards to updated videos and post what I find here. I would like a simple video to show patients as well as one for teaching staff members.

Lani, here are the Medicare reimbursement requirements: DM alone does not qualify for reimbursement, must have DM and neuropathy one of the following documented components-nontramatic amputation of the foot, ischemioc component, absent DP or PT pulse, lack of hair, thickened nail, changes in skin pigmentation, skin atrophy, dependent rubor, claudication, temp. changes, edema, parestheias, burning/tingling, mycotic nails, pain in limb, gait abnormality, ankle/foot arthritis or deformities.

[spadon]

Hi,

I am a certified foot care nurse. I had a foot care business in Colorado, but have relocated to the Phoenix area. I was wondering if there are any nurses in Arizona who have their own foot care business or work for foot care clinics, as I am interested in getting back into foot care. Thanks for any information.

[Liveandlearn]

What ever happened to FNANA, Foot Nurse Alliance of North America?

Diane

[lindy_]

Can a bleach solution be used to properly clean instruments between clients?

[Ciege911]

Hi Lindy, I would refrain from using bleach on your instruments between patients. Bleach may/will cause pitting in stainless steel and void manufactor warranty. (I paid way too much for my instruments to void warranty and ruin them!!!!) Your instruments need to be sterilized between patients, not just disinfected. I use a surgical instrument cleaner and and a disinfectant prior to autoclaving my instruments b/t patients. You can use cold sterilization but the dwell time is often 6+ hours and the cost averages about $25 per gallon with 1 gallon used daily (depending # of clients/instruments). If you have enough instruments you could cold sterilize over night. Unfortunately cold sterilization is expensive and the products typically have a low shelf life once open (10-30 days usually). For best practice I would follow CDC guidelines for cold sterilization, I don't have the exact webdress--but start with CDC.gov/ and search cold sterilization. I do know Cidex is often used as a cold sterilizer (quick search on McKesson got $100 for a case--product # 387213). Anyway, I hope this helped. Overall I would make every attempt to buy, borrow, or steal an autoclave--it takes 20 minutes and instruments are STERILE and ready to use. Just kidding on the steal part--don't want to hear Ciege911 said I could--ha ha.

[lindy_]

Thank you so much for your response Ciege. My agency was just awarded the public health nursing contract for our County. One piece of that contract is to continue a popular traveling foot care and toenail cutting clinic. The previous agency used bleach to disinfect between clients and we are in the process of writing our own policies. We will not begin seeing clients until late August. I am going to have to really start researching to see if there is such a thing as a small portable autoclave etc. These clinics are held at congregate meal sites, homeless shelters, churches etc. Does anyone else do similar clinics and what has worked best for you as far as sterilizing instruments? Thanks so much. I love this board!

[Ciege911]

I got my CFCN training at Emmory in Atlanta and recently took certification test--let me know if you need help with that too. We did a traveling foot clinical at Emmory and they would disinfect instruments on site and then take instruments back to the hospital for sterilization. I know this practice is okay with CDC and should give you coverage in event of problem. Perhaps you can do the same, I would think that public health has a autoclave on site. Congratulations on the grant/contract, I work for IHS under somewhat similar circumstances and must meet certain goals/guidelines for funding. You can also look up IHS best practice guidelines which may help you to develope your PP manual. www.ihs.gov/medicalprograms/diabetes. This should help, because it is all gov guidelines but it does focus on diabetics only.

Let me klnow if I can help anymore and good luck.

[footsavvy]

You may just want to have enough complete sets of instruments and burs for the amount of people you will be seeing, and have all instruments sterilized and wrapped individually. If you have funds, this is the simplest way to go... so that you are not spending half your time dealing with cleaning instruments!!