Frequently Asked Questions | Well Heeled Podiatry in Hampton

Do I need a referral to see a Podiatrist?

If you have any issues that involve the lower limb, foot, and/or ankle. This can include a sports injury, arthritis/joint pain, skin problems, toenail issues, and much more. If this is something you are experiencing, then a visit to the podiatrist is recommended.

A podiatrist is a specialist who manages and treats almost all symptoms that involve the ankle and/or the foot. We also recommend seeing a podiatrist if you want to have a foot check up so we can assess

What to expect at your initial consultation?

During the initial consultation, your podiatrist will start with taking a thorough history including your current issue, medical history, any exercise or activity that you participate in, previous foot/ankle injuries and footwear history.

The information you supply the podiatrist will help them to get to the root of your problem. Consider the following points before your appointment:

Where and when does the complaint occur?
Is there something in particular that causes the problem? Is it a particular pair of shoes or a particular activity that causes the pain?
Is there anything that makes it feel better?

The podiatrist will then perform a thorough assessment of your feet and ankle. They will then discuss with you their findings and provide you with a personalized treatment plan. On occasion, further diagnostic imaging may be required (ie Xray or Ultrasounds). Your podiatrist will inform you if this is the case.

Can a podiatrist request X-rays and ultrasound as well as other diagnostic images such as MRI.

If diagnostic testing is required, e.g. x-rays or ultrasounds, our podiatrists will provide you with the required referral. Some complex imaging can only be referred by your GP in which case, your podiatrist will advise you. Imaging may be required for certain conditions such as tendinopathy, fractures and heel pain. We recommend coming in to see one of our podiatrist to have a proper foot assessment and the podiatrist will let you know if imaging is warranted.

Do podiatrists sterilise instruments and clean the room after each visit?

Yes. Prior to you entering the room, a full cleaning process has been performed of the chair, the benches, the instrument tray as well as the floors. Every instrument used has undergone a rigorous sterilisation process.

Hygiene is of upmost importance amongst our podiatrists here at Well Heeled Podiatry. We also do regular mentoring sessions to ensure we are up to date with the regulation surrounding sterilization and cleaning process.

Does Well Heeled Podiatry do home visit?

Do you accept all private health funds?

Yes we do. We have a HICAPS machine in our clinic so we can process your claim at the time of your consultation. However, if you forgot to bring your private health card, we can email you an invoice so you can process the claim online.

It’s always a good idea to ask your health insurer exactly what they will cover from your treatments, so there are no nasty surprises along the way.

If you are unsure how much certain treatments or products will cost, our podiatrist can give you the specific codes for each appointment type or treatment, and you can then ask your insurer what amount they will cover for each one.

How long are the appointments?

What do I need to bring to my appointment

We suggest you bring along a few things to your appointment that can help your podiatrist better assess your injury.

Footwear: Bring along your work, exercise, casual shoes, slippers, thongs. They all tell a story and help us to help you.
Orthotic devices: If you have orthotics or have had them previously, please bring them along.
Previous results: If you have had scans or imaging regarding your current injury, please bring them with you. Alternatively, you can email it prior to your appointment (contact@wellheeledpodiatry.com.au)
Referral: Although a referral is not required to see our podiatrists, if you have one, please bring it along and we will save it to your patient file.
Clothing: loose clothing that can be rolled up above your knees and does not restrict movement is preferable to allow the podiatrist to undertake a thorough assessment.
Medicare card, health insurance card and means of payment: If eligible for a rebate, we can help process your rebate at our clinics.

Are Well Heeled Podiatry a bulk billing clinic

No, we are not a bulk billing clinic. We do bill Department of Veteran Affairs Gold Card holders and NDIS directly, however all other services will incur an out of pocket fee.

Our focus is to provide a quality service with extended appointments to ensure you have a comprehensive treatment plan in place.

You can find more information on our third party payment and rebates here.

https://www.wellheeledpodiatry.com.au/podiatry-rebates-third-parties

Do you have wheelchair access and parking?

Do you accept Medicare EPC referrals?

Will DVA cover my appointment costs?

Do you see WorkCover and TAC clients – is there an out of pocket fee

Is Well Heeled Podiatry a registered NDIS provider?

I have diabetes, how important is it I see a podiatrist?

In Australia, 1 person is diagnosed with diabetes every 5 minutes. As many as 15% of those people with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer at some point in their lives, and 6% of those will be hospitalized due to a related complication or infection. Of those 6%, many will have a condition which worsens to the point where a toe, foot or even leg may need to be amputated.

When you have diabetes you are much more at risk of having foot problems so it is incredibly important that diabetics take care of their feet and get regular foot check-ups with a qualified podiatrist. Your podiatrist will educate you regarding the importance of good foot care, assess your nerves, blood flow as well as reflexes. This is a good opportunity to have a chat with us if you have any concerns regarding your feet.

What is a diabetic foot assessment? And why do I need it if I have diabetes?

During a diabetic foot assessment, the podiatrist will check the blood flow to the feet by recording the pulse rate in two places, on the top of the foot and the inside of the ankle. The podiatrist will also check the sensitivity of the nerve endings in the feet. This is done by asking the patient to close their eyes and then they will be asked to identify different sensations. Should there be any concerns about reduced blood flow or nerve damage, the podiatrist will write a letter to update the GP and further investigations may be required. Coming in for a diabetes assessment is also a good opportunity to have a chat with us if you have any concerns regarding your feet including ways to keep your feet healthy.

What products do you sell?

At Well Heeled Podiatry we sell a range of different products such as Archie thongs (recommended for arch support), Walker Urea Cream (recommended for dry heels and calluses), Fs6 compression socks (recommended for plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis), trigger point balls, point of relief, sports tape, and resistance band (recommended for rehab exercises). We also sell off the shelf orthotics.

I am unsure what runners/working shoes/school shoes to buy. Can I get footwear recommendations?

Yes, of course! Our podiatrists can assess your feet and provide footwear advice/recommendations. We can offer patients footwear scripts and discounts as well. If you would like to learn more about what shoes are great, check out our blog articles for good netball, footy and school shoes.

Can you provide home exercise programs so I can continue doing them at home?

Our podiatrist can certainly provide you with some exercise programs that can be done at home or at the gym if you prefer. We will recommend exercises based on your injuries/existing conditions and this can either be stretching or strengthening exercises, or even both.

What makes us different from other clinics?

At Well Heeled Podiatry, we pride ourselves on amazing patient care, provided in an aesthetic and clean warm clinic, with goals to get your feet better as soon as possible.

We offer unique and effective services for treating acute and chronic ankle, foot and heel pain,

We aim to provide patients with the best quality duty of care hence, we work hard to ensure patients follow up with us, seeing us regularly to ensure you maintain the progress you have made as well as creating a customized treatment plan that is specific to you and your feet.

When can I get an appointment?