Don Pelto, DPM - Podiatry Practice Mastery

What can you learn from a highly productive podiatrist who prioritizes listening, patient education, and personalized care? In part two of his podiatrist annual self-evaluation series, Dr. Don Pelto reviews his partner's answers and explores how asking better questions, explaining treatment options, and giving patients a clear plan can contribute to patient satisfaction and practice production.Don also discusses the challenges of running behind schedule, managing difficult patient encounters, improving staff communication, and creating longer appointment blocks for complex cases. Discover how experienced podiatrists can use self-evaluations to identify opportunities for improvement, mentor younger doctors, and transition toward a more sustainable clinical schedule without losing sight of practice profitability.Keywords: podiatrist self-evaluation, podiatry patient communication, associate podiatrist mentoring, podiatry practice productivity, podiatry practice management

What do you do when a patient has severe foot pain, but the examination doesn't reveal a clear explanation? In this episode of Podiatry Practice Mastery, Dr. Don Pelto shares the case of a 25-year-old woman who had already seen several doctors, tried different shoes and orthotics, and continued to experience significant foot pain. Drawing on ideas from The Body Keeps the Score and Dr. Sarno's work, Don explores the relationship between pain, the nervous system, stress, and past emotional experiences.Discover why persistent foot pain sometimes requires looking beyond traditional biomechanical explanations, how to approach sensitive conversations with patients, and why collaboration with primary care and mental health professionals may be valuable. This episode encourages podiatrists to consider a broader approach to unexplained pain while recognizing that pain is real even when its underlying cause isn't immediately apparent.Keywords: chronic foot pain, mind-body connection and pain, unexplained foot pain, trauma-informed podiatry, nervous system and chronic pain

How do you evaluate an associate podiatrist's performance and identify opportunities for improvement without making the review process uncomfortable or overly focused on production? In this episode of Podiatry Practice Mastery, Dr. Don Pelto walks through the annual podiatrist self-evaluation form he created with ChatGPT and shares his own answers. He examines clinical confidence, treatment planning, scheduling, productivity, patient retention, practice growth, and team communication.Discover how a structured self-evaluation can help you identify strengths, recognize areas where coaching could make a difference, and establish meaningful goals for the next 90 days. Don also shares practical examples from his own practice, including improving orthotic recommendations, delegating treatments, refining patient scheduling, and using outside coaching to develop clinical confidence. Whether you're reviewing an associate or evaluating your own performance, this episode offers a framework for more productive conversations and continuous improvement.Keywords: podiatrist self-evaluation, associate podiatrist performance review, podiatry practice productivity, podiatrist professional development, podiatry practice management

Could an AI medical scribe help you capture revenue you're currently missing in your podiatry practice? In this episode of Podiatry Practice Mastery, Dr. Don Pelto shares how using an AI scribe during routine nail care appointments has helped him document additional evaluation and management services that he previously overlooked during busy clinic sessions.Through five real patient examples involving hematomas, exostosis, neuropathy, and fall risk, Don explains how AI-assisted documentation helps him capture the clinical work he's already performing. Discover how an AI scribe can improve documentation efficiency, support appropriate medical billing, and help you evaluate whether switching from a traditional scribe makes financial sense for your practice.Keywords: AI medical scribe for podiatrists, podiatry billing and coding, E/M billing during nail care, AI scribe ROI, podiatry practice profitability

What should you do when an associate podiatrist wants to reduce their workweek but keep the same salary? And how can a small podiatry practice support doctors taking family or medical leave without creating an unsustainable financial burden?In this episode of Podiatry Practice Mastery, Dr. Don Pelto discusses real situations involving associate compensation, reduced work schedules, and family leave. He shares how his Massachusetts practice uses percentage-based compensation and how paid family and medical leave benefits can help eligible doctors manage time away from work. Learn why compensation structure matters, how to approach these conversations thoughtfully, and why understanding your state's leave requirements is essential for protecting both your doctors and your practice.Keywords: podiatrist associate compensation, paid family and medical leave Massachusetts, podiatry practice management, production-based physician compensation, associate podiatrist salary