| Do I need to be referred?
If your stomach hurts or you have a headache, the cause can be any number of things. In these cases, you don't really know where the problem lies, and can't really go directly to a specialist.
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| How much does podiatry care cost?
A visit to the podiatrist generally costs less than a visit to a medical doctor. A medical doctor who specializes in feet is called an orthopedist (OR-THO-PE-DIST).
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| How to choose a podiatrist
Choosing a podiatrist is much like choosing any other medical specialist. Membership in either the American Podiatric Medical Association or the American Board Of Podiatric Surgery will assure you that this is a professional who keeps abreast of the latest in foot care procedures.
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| What can I expect on my first visit?
What happens on your first visit will depend on you and your feet. Why are you seeing the podiatrist in the first place? Do your feet hurt, or do you just want a checkup prior to starting an exercise program? In either case, the doctor will examine your feet to determine their overall condition.
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| What is podiatry?
Just as an optometrist specializes in fitting prescriptive eyeglasses, a podiatrist specializes in treating conditions and diseases of the feet. A podiatrist is not a medical doctor, or M-D, but instead has a D-P-M degree, which stands for Doctor of Podiatric Medicine.
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| What will my insurance cover?
There are literally thousands of health care plans around, and there's no definite answer as to what will be covered in any individual case. Podiatry is a recognized health specialty, and most health plans generally include it.
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