If you hold a DVA gold card, you may be eligible for a number of fully subsidised podiatry services – and it all starts with a foot health assessment. If you’ve yet to take advantage of this service – or you have no idea how podiatry can help you, we’ve outlined everything you need to know about your foot health and My FootDr below.
Your Eligibility
You may be able to receive DVA-funded podiatry care from our team if you have an assessed clinical need for lower limb care and either a gold card, or a white card where your treatment is for an accepted service-related condition. You can receive a referral from your GP, medical specialist, treating doctor in hospital or hospital discharge planner for podiatry care under the Allied Health Services treatment cycle. Your referral will last for up to 12 sessions or 12 months – whichever ends first. There are no limits to the number of treatment cycles that you can have.
The First Appointment: Your Foot Health Assessment
The first appointment with one of our My FootDr podiatrists is your foot health Assessment. The goal of this session is to perform a comprehensive review of your feet and legs, discuss your problems and concerns and get to know you – so we can make a plan of how to help you best. We’ll also determine the kinds of appointments you’ll need for the next 12 months, including the number and frequency of appointments according to your needs.
During your appointment, we’ll examine the condition of the skin and nails at your feet, your foot type and any restrictions or biomechanical problems, check your pulses (circulation) and sensation (feeling), assess your gait (the way you walk) and check your shoes to ensure they fit well and are assisting your mobility – and not hindering it. We’ll then write back to your referring doctor and keep them fully informed of our findings and treatment recommendations.
Next Step: Your Treatment Plan
Based on the results of your assessment, your My FootDr podiatrist will create a unique and tailored treatment plan to best match your needs. This may include:
- Removing corns and reducing calluses
- Trimming and reducing the thickness of your toenails
- Managing ingrown toenails
- Physical therapy
- Managing musculoskeletal pain and injury
- Custom foot orthotics to assist your mobility, comfort on your feet, and any pain you may be experiencing
- Footwear modifications
- Medical-grade footwear
Your Treatment Begins
Once we’ve identified the care you need, the next step is beginning treatment! It’s important to know that alongside providing the best and evidence-based clinical treatment, My FootDr podiatrists also prioritise preventing the recurrence of your foot pain and problems, alongside educating you on how to best care for and protect your feet. We encourage any and every question to be asked at your appointment, and for any new concerns to be raised as soon as they come up. After all, we only get one pair of feet – and we’ve got to look after them!
We’ll follow your treatment plan, carrying out the care you need at the right intervals to help keep you happy and healthy on your feet. Our skin and nail care treatments are generally spaced between 6-8 weeks apart (depending on how quickly your nails grow and your corns/calluses develop!). If you require orthotics, we’ll create a separate appointment for this quickly, so we can get your orthotics designed and in your shoes as soon as possible!
What To Bring To Your Appointment
If you’re seeing us for the first time, please bring any relevant medical information – x-rays, ultrasounds, medications, any shoes you wear regularly and anything else that may be relevant to your foot and lower limb health. If you’ve seen us previously, we’ll already have your digital file with this information ready and waiting.
Ready For Exceptional Foot Care?
If you’re ready for tailored, genuine foot care from our experienced My FootDr podiatrists, book your appointment by calling us on 1800 FOOTDR or book online here.