Technology

Technology in podiatry

Andrew Schox | Section Editor

Podiatrist, software developer, technologist and futurist

Andrew is a podiatrist in private practice. He is also a software developer, technologist and futurist. He is a former Chair of the Australasian Podiatry Council as well as Advocare, and is the current chair of Melville Cares. He is a former director of the Australian and New Zealand Podiatry Accreditation Council (ANZPAC) and the Australasian College of Podiatric Deans (ACPD). Andrew is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

This article is the first in a series which explores technology as it specifically applies to podiatry. As podiatrists we will reflect on technology in our context: what it means to us. This includes how we can take advantage of it and what the future holds, regardless of how familiar you may be with all facets of technology right now.

“Of course, we use software to help run and administer our businesses, but clinical activity is increasingly supported by software too. Then there are tools to educate ourselves and our patients, and reference tools.”

The 'why': looking behind technology

Why should you care about technology? If you are on the fence about any issues related to technology then here are some things to consider (and if this doesn’t apply to you, keep scrolling down!)

 

  • It’s 2021. The future is already here. Technology isn’t going to go away, and it is moving forward at an ever-increasing rate.
  • Your competitors are using it to their advantage (and maybe to your detriment). Competitors in this case refers not just to podiatry, but includes other health providers, shoe stores, fitness providers and many organisations related to our sector.
  • Taking advantage of technology can make a big difference. It has the potential to help you run your business better, become a better clinician, and perhaps live a more balanced life.
  • Our profession needs to evolve. We must collectively keep up with the times, whether or not we are comfortable with it.

 

The 'what': what does technology encompass?

We all think of technology in terms of smartphones, software, artificial intelligence and robots, but where else does it fit into the life of a podiatrist? Here are some examples:

 

  • Clinical gadgets: ultrasound, shockwave, microwave, lasers, scanners, gait analysis and much more besides
  • Wearable tech: smart watches, sensors in shoes and even in clothing for data acquisition
  • Education: internet-based courses, webinars, scholarly databases, video collaboration, apps.

 

As you can see, it’s all around us.

 

A closer look at clinical technology

So, we can use fancy clinical gadgets when treating patients, but does high-tech equipment make you a better clinician? Not by itself, of course. Clinical skills are formed over time, based on education, experience and a desire to keep up with advances in practice. These types of skills should not be replaced with machines, but instead work synergistically with them.

 

However, we are also now in an environment where our patients can go to a shoe store and get an impressive assessment with a space-age gait analysis machine and an iPad. If - after buying their shoes - they come to your practice and you are standing there with a goniometer in one hand and a roll of plaster in the other, then it’s pretty hard to look like a ‘cutting edge’ practitioner.

"The explosive growth in the use of software, information and the data that we collect . . . makes it timely to consider issues related to security, privacy and intellectual property."

The 'how': let’s talk software

I plan to explore technology in all its forms with you, and for now, software is a good starting point as any. Of course, we use software to help run and administer our businesses, but clinical activity is increasingly supported by software too. Then there are tools to educate ourselves and our patients, and reference tools. For example, as an endorsed prescriber, I frequently use online services, such as MIMs and the Therapeutic Guidelines as clinical support tools, and I am sure you have similar tools which you use regularly.

 

1. How software is changing

There used to be a time when businesses would try to buy an all-encompassing software product with which to run their entire business. Nowadays it is possible to choose from a variety of specific, single purpose tools which fit both your specific needs and your personal preferences. Here are some software tools which most of us would use to a greater or lesser degree in our practices today:

 

  • Patient management systems
  • Accounting/payroll software
  • Word processing, spreadsheets, graphics
  • Somewhere to store documents (e.g. Dropbox, Google Drive and others)
  • Communications tools (e.g. email, SMS, telephony, video)
  • Marketing software (e.g. HubSpot, Salesforce, Campaign Monitor)

 

Others may use software for a variety of different uses; such as for checklists, policy and procedures, compliance and more.

 

2. The need to integrate

The magic of modern software is that in many cases it can integrate with other software. In other words, one piece of software can talk to (and exchange information with) other software. This not only allows you to run your business as a coherent whole from its individual functional parts, but also offers the possibility of automating certain tasks, which will be the subject of another forthcoming article in this series.

 

3. Complex questions to consider

The explosive growth in the use of software, information and the data that we collect also makes it timely to consider issues related to security, privacy and intellectual property. For example, there may be questions (and confusion) about how and where to store information (e.g. on my laptop or in the cloud?) and what are our moral and legal responsibilities when we deal with confidential material? We will take a look at these issues in full over the year ahead.

“There are many developments in technology that are in progress. We need to keep an eye on these . . . a good example here is the use of artificial intelligence.”

We deserve to be leaders

Technology matters to our patients and also our profession. It is all around us and it certainly is a moving target. We can take advantage of this in order to have better businesses, deliver better client care and keep our profession forward-focussed, modern and innovative, where it needs to be.

 

There are many developments in technology that are in progress. We need to keep an eye on these as they evolve and become part of our future practice. A good example here is the use of artificial intelligence. Our profession needs to understand trends and possibilities for the future, in order to be able to take advantage of innovations in practice.

 

I believe that if you embrace technology in a considered, appropriate way, and you keep up with what’s happening now, and what might happen in the future; then you can have a better business, be a better clinician and maybe get a better life balance happening.

 

I look forward to exploring these issues with you across 2021.

The year ahead

This year I plan to cover the following issues.

  • Clinical treatment technology
  • Business technology (in general)
  • Automating your business
  • Practice management systems
  • Security and privacy
  • The cloud
  • Wearable technology
  • Intellectual property (with external legal writer)
  • Research/scholarship
  • App suggestions
  • Trends in technology

 

Please get in touch if you have any particular questions that you would like addressed at: andrew@footanklelowerlimb.com.au

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