STEP AHEAD FOOT & ANKLE CLINIC, PC HAS INITIATED A TELEHEALTH SERVICE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS:
1.) OUR TOP PRIORITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN, AND CONTINUES TO BE, PATIENT, EMPLOYEE, COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY.
2.) WITH THE PRIMARY GOAL OF TRIAGING, OR PRIORITIZING WHAT'S URGENT AND WHAT'S NOT, DR. FIALA SEEKS TO HELP PATIENTS WITH THE FOOT CONCERNS OVER THE PHONE OR COMPUTER. CARING FOR PATIENTS IN THIS WAY, AND ARRANGING FOR VISITS IN CLINIC IF NECESSARY (INFECTIONS, ULCERATIONS, INJURIES) AND IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT, SHE HOPES TO DO HER PART IN ALLOWING TO THE URGENT CARES AND EMERGENCIES ROOMS HELP THOSE WITH NEEDS RELATED TO THE VIRUS.
3.) ALTHOUGH DR. FIALA OBVIOUSLY CANNOT PHYSICIALLY TREAT YOU OR OTHER PATIENTS OVER THE PHONE OR COMPUTER, SHE CAN HOPEFULLY SEE IF YOUR CONCERN WOULD BE BEST TREATED PHYSICALLY, AND ARRANGE FOR THIS TO BE DONE. IF SHE CAN HELP GIVE YOU DIRECTION AND ADVICE OVER THE COMPUTER OR PHONE, SHE WILL DO SO. THIS PARTICULARLY APPLIES TO YOU IF YOU HAVE FOOT PAIN, AS MANY TREATMENT OPTIONS CAN BE RELAYED IN THIS WAY (STRETCHES, SHOE RECOMMENDATIONS, ORTHOTIC RECOMMENDATIONS).
4.) DURING THIS TIME OF ANXIETY, STRESS, AND UNCERTAINTY, DR. FIALA WANTS TO DO HER PART IN HELPING YOU DO THE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO (CARING FOR A LOVED ONE, RUNNING OUTSIDE FOR STRESS RELIEF, OR WALKING ON A TREADMILL AT HOME, FOR EXAMPLE) WITHOUT FOOT PAIN INTERFERING. SHE DOES'T WANT YOU TO HAVE TO WAIT MONTHS OR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME FOR YOU TO GET BACK ON YOUR FEET!