An ophthalmologist for your eye problems. A dentist for your tooth problems. A cardiologist for your heart problems. For every specific health issue, you need to consult a specialist.
Not only because specialists have acquired the education, training, and experience to deal with particular medical issues, but certain medical problems may also be too critical for a general physician to work on. And when you’ve got a foot and/or ankle problem, you’re going to need the expertise of a podiatrist.
A podiatrist specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of foot and ankle disorders. These may be done through both nonsurgical and surgical means. Podiatrists undergo four years of training in a podiatric medical school and three years of hospital-based residency training. During residency, podiatrists receive both medical and surgical training.
Make Sure They Specialize In Your Condition
When choosing the best podiatrist in Baltimore, find out the doctor’s field of specialty. Some podiatrists will practice pediatric podiatry, which focuses on kids; some will practice sports injury; some will focus on wound care and diabetic care, and others will specialize in surgery. Choosing a podiatrist that meets your exact foot care needs will mean better treatment. It’s even better if you can find a podiatrist who is able to diagnose and treat a wide-ranging foot and ankle related problems.
Much Easier Today
Finding the right podiatrist should be easier to do today, especially with your access to the internet. First, you’ll want to get a referral from your general physician. Second, you can look up the podiatrist’s website, and learn about his or her medical qualifications and the conditions routinely treated. And third, read the testimonials page or look up online reviews from past patients so you’ll have some idea of how the podiatrist delivers care.
Get To Know The Dr.
Finally, go in for an initial consultation to get to know the doctor. You never really know how a medical professional performs until you’ve actually tried their service. You can get a shortlist going and try to make appointments with each one. This way, you’ll be able to gauge their so-called bedside manner and make comparisons on their philosophies for treatment.
It’s important to be comfortable around your physician, whether it’s for your foot problem or not. The patient-doctor relationship is something you need to be thoughtful about so that you’re guaranteed the best medical care, to ensure the future of your health. By choosing your Baltimore podiatrist very carefully, you can be certain that your feet will get the care they need.
If you would like to schedule your initial consultation, give us a call at 410-560-2777 or fill out the form on the top right of this page.