Annual Foot Screen

What is an ANNUAL FOOT SCREEN?

Your annual foot screen is a comprehensive exam in which your doctor and their team update/overhaul your chart, check your Medicare compliance, and perform simple & basic tests to the lower extremity as part of her Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention (LEAP) program. 

Who might have an ANNUAL FOOT SCREEN?

Foot Screens should be performed annually on patients with at least one of these factors:

·         every diabetic patient

·         every patient over 60 years old

·         current or former smokers over 50 years old

·         history of foot  and/or leg ulcers

·         history of heart attack, stroke, TIAs, PAD

·         history of vascular surgery, angioplasty, open heart surgery

·         neuropathy, Hansen’s disease,  spinal trauma, polio, etc.

·         motor loss to the legs,

          

Why do it?

It is simple.  A comprehensive program follows guidelines adopted by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to dramatically reduce lower extremity amputations in individuals with a loss of sensation or other diseases that can cause breakdown in the feet.  Foot Screens also helps document qualifying criteria for medical necessity with Medicare in the treatment and maintenance of mycotic nails or callus care and diabetic shoes programs.

What is involved?

Come to the office prepared with:

·         Your current  and complete medical history (not just related to your feet or legs)

·         Hospitalization or surgeries in the past year

·         Current medication list

·         Names of all the other doctors/specialists treating your feet or legs for wounds, trauma, nails, or shoes

·         Approximate dates of your Pneumonia, Influenza and Tetanus vaccinations

·         Any significant changes that have happened throughout the past year

·         Arrive unrushed and dressed comfortably

·         Do not smoke for at least two hours prior to the screen 

·         If you are diabetic, we need your current:

o    name of  the doctor treating your diabetes and date of last visit

o    A1c results & date

o    approximate date of your retinal eye exam

Usually, an Ankle-Brachial Index test will be performed at the same time. This test is simple, reliable, and safe. The ABI test is usually the first test used to diagnose PAD in patients who have active symptoms such as leg discomfort, numbness, or non-healing sores.   The ABI is also used to look for PAD in patients who do not have any symptoms, but are at risk for the disease due to their risk factors.  Studies have shown that the ABI can identify about 90% of women with asymptomatic PAD.

 Risk Factors for Peripheral Arterial Disease

· Cigarette smoking

· Obesity

· Diabetes mellitus

· High blood pressure

· Physical inactivity

· High blood cholesterol

· History of heart attack, stroke, TIAs, PAD

· History of vascular /open heart surgery, angioplasty

Signs and Symptoms of PAD

· Painful cramping of leg muscles during walking

· Burning/aching pain in the feet and toes while resting

· Toe and foot sores that do not heal

· Color changes in the skin

· Cooling of the skin in specific areas of legs or feet

So call your doctor and get your scheduled.