Podiatrists are medical doctors who can diagnose, treat, and perform minor surgery on any issues that affect your feet, ankles, and lower legs.
Tips & Links
Podiatrists are not medical physicians, but called podiatrist doctors that focus on diseases or conditions of your feet, ankles, and lower legs. Any of these problems not treated can cause impact on your health, mobility, and quality of life.
Learn About
- Podiatrists are also called podiatric physicians, podiatric surgeons or podiatric foot and ankle surgeons and are regulated by the BC Podiatric Medical Association.
- Podiatrists can diagnose health conditions that affect your feet and ankle, order lab or imaging tests, prescribe medications, perform minor surgeries (such as ingrown toenail, bunion, or plantar wart removal), prescribe orthotics, braces, or casts, and suggest mobility aids/devices.
- Learn how to find a podiatrist in your area through BC Podiatric Medical Association.
- Check out suggestions for foot hygiene and health from Healthlink BC.
- Know that you do not need a referral to see a podiatrist. However, some health benefits require a referral from a physician or nurse practitioner for your visit to be covered. Surgical procedures are partially covered by your medical services plan (MSP). To understand what the visit may cost, it is best to ask when you make the appointment.
Things You Can Do
- Learn about foot and nail care and how regular home and nail salon treatments can be beneficial.
- Bring your health advocate with you to the appointment to take notes on treatments, remind you of your questions and concerns, and provide assistance if you receive treatments that impact your mobility.
- Know how to participate in your health care visits and record your health information or have your health advocate present to do this.
- Learn how to make your physician or healthcare visit more effective and productive from Healthlink BC.
- Know about your patient rights including informed consent, privacy and confidentiality, and the right to refuse or accept care.
- Develop your self-advocacy skills to ensure your questions are answered and your needs and decisions are heard.
- Be aware of your personal boundaries and know how to express them, especially when privacy and personal contact are involved in your treatment.
Add your Podiatrist to your My Health Care & Business Professionals PDF tool found in My People. Include their contact information and any questions you have for them. Save to digital and print files.