Building Effective Partnerships Between Vascular Surgeons and Podiatric Physicians in the Effective Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers

J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2016 Jul;106(4):308-11. doi: 10.7547/15-062.

Abstract

Both vascular surgeons and podiatric physicians care for patients with diabetic foot ulcerations (DFUs), one of today's most challenging health-care populations in the United States. The prevalence of DFUs has steadily increased, along with the rising costs associated with care. Because of the numerous comorbidities affecting these patients, it is necessary to take a multidisciplinary approach in the management of these patients. Such efforts, primarily led by podiatric physicians and vascular surgeons, have been shown to effectively decrease major limb loss. Establishing an interprofessional partnership between vascular surgery and podiatric medicine can lead to an improvement in the delivery of care and outcomes of this vulnerable patient population.

MeSH terms

  • Diabetic Foot / diagnosis
  • Diabetic Foot / epidemiology
  • Diabetic Foot / surgery*
  • Female
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Humans
  • Interdisciplinary Communication
  • Interprofessional Relations
  • Male
  • Partnership Practice / organization & administration
  • Podiatry / methods*
  • Quality of Health Care*
  • Surgeons / statistics & numerical data
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United States
  • Vascular Surgical Procedures / methods*