2020 marks my 30th year as a podiatrist. I still love my profession and rarely have a day when I don’t want to go to work. I think I’ve been in the profession in an amazing era (and hopefully will continue to be for some time)!
In September 1990 I established a private podiatry practice in Beverley a lovely market town in East Yorkshire. This period of time was I think the beginning of the end of the purely “cut and come again” private podiatry practice. From the 1990’s onward there has been a steady movement of change in private podiatry practice. This has been as a result of technology, the profession developing further and also being pushed by the now mandatory CPD activities we all have to undertake. I think many of us grumbled at first about having to do this, but it has progressed our knowledge and development as a profession and importantly increased what we can offer our patients as a result of our own development professionally. I know I still relish any opportunity at developing my podiatric knowledge and skills further.
With progression of the profession the offering of private podiatry practices has changed. Due to the local geographic conditions of population density, access, socioeconomic groups etc, I have a good “general” podiatry practice offering footcare for those who need/want it, nail surgery services, swift microwave therapy, management of MSK issues just to name the main services we offer.
Private podiatry provision will continue to evolve. There will always be a need for generalists like myself, but I think the future will see an increasing emergence of podiatrists practicing in more narrow areas but to a higher degree of that specialism. For instance, there are now several private podiatrists who solely practise in their chosen speciality of managing musculoskeletal problems. This model will probably work and be more common in densely populated areas but areas with a sparser population will probably only have generalists in private practice. Despite this probable change, we should all follow our podiatric “passions” as we will do best in these specialisms and then not be afraid to refer to other podiatrists who are specialists in areas we are not. This is actually a win for the referrer who’s reputation will increase in the eyes of their patient, a win for the patient – hopefully getting the best outcome for their problem and a win for the specialist podiatrist. This development of “specialisms" in podiatry is being pushed by technology such as gait analysis equipment, dermatoscopes, microwave generators, shock wave therapy machines, lasers, ultrasound scanning etc. No doubt more will emerge over time.
During these uncertain Covid obsessed times many podiatrists are worried and uncertain about their future and whether podiatry will still thrive. Since establishing my practice I’ve lived and prospered through many difficult periods in Britain, recessions, the banking crisis and now Covid-19. One thing an extended period in the podiatry profession has given me is the knowledge that as long as people have feet – they will have foot related problems! We are the go-to people for foot problems which are often pain based so no matter what happens in the world people will want their foot problems solved. Yes. There will no doubt be a few “bumps” in the road. We will need to practise in a “covid secure” way, but we will still have patients with problems to solve. Many patients will now do their own research and attempt to solve their own problems via “Dr Google” and may have some success but not most! How many of you have had patients buy their own insoles only to come to you because their problem is not solved? How many of you have had patients try to treat their own corns but come to you when their corn still hurts? How many of you have patients try everything at the chemist but still can’t get rid of their verrucae? Remember Podiatry largely requires a “hands on” approach to identify and treat problems successfully. It will require us to stay educated to the highest degree possible to remain “the” foot experts and providers of foot healthcare.
Good luck in your podiatric journey. It’s been a very satisfying journey for me so far. Face the future with a love of developing your podiatric knowledge, using the best technology/skills/evidence supported approaches to solving your patients’ problems and your future will be secure and satisfying. I still get a buzz from solving my patients foot problems (no matter how simple or complex) and putting a smile on their faces. Simply be the best podiatrist you can be, don’t settle for less!
Damian P. Johns B.AppSc (POD), M.C.Pod.
Podiatrist
