Moose Jaw Podiatry Clinic

04/29/2022

What are the impacts of no-shows on a clinic?

I’ve been on the fence about writing on this topic for a while, but I have decided its time.

No-shows occur when a patient fails to attend a scheduled appointment with no prior notification to the clinic. They are missed time slots that can negatively affect the utilization of resources. Prospective patients are impacted with delayed access to appointments.

This has always been an issue and I know it’s not unique to our clinic. At our office all appointments are confirmed the day before. We understand and are fully aware that life gets in the way with unexpected emergencies. I am not talking about these situations where appointments are missed.

When a patient no-shows for their appointment, they are ultimately taking an appointment away from someone else. We receive calls daily from patients with acute conditions that we do our best to schedule in, often squeezing them in after hours or over lunch to accommodate. But the reality is we cannot accommodate everyone. This means that patients can often wait several days or weeks to be seen with acute conditions such as ingrown toenails.

Most people advise our office when they cannot make appointments. However, there are those that take appointment times for granted and do not advise us when they cannot make their scheduled appointment. At our office we have made the hard decision to charge for no show fee in situations that we feel is abuse. We are hoping that the no-show fee will be a deterrent and will push people to take the time and advise our office if they cannot attend their scheduled appointment.

Regards,
Dr. Ata Stationwala

06/21/2021

03/03/2021

Heel Pain? Now What?

You wake up, step out of bed and bang! It’s like someone just shot you in the foot. You can’t put any pressure on your heel and you feel like you’ve aged 20 years overnight. Heel pain is a very common condition that I see in my practice. Heel pain can be the result of sudden injury or more repetitive strain of the soft tissues in the foot. It can affect children and adults. It can affect elite athletes as much as your average Joe. For most people who develop heel pain it tends to be something that has a gradual onset. It tends to worsen over time until it gets to the point where the individual feels they finally need to do something about it. Heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, tarsal tunnel syndrome, Achilles tendonitis, Sever’s disease etc., are some of the conditions that could be the culprit. The key with heel pain is not to wait. Get it assessed and treated as soon as you can. Know that, treating the symptoms is only half the battle. Anti-inflammatories will get you only so far. The key to resolving the pain quickly is to not just treat the symptoms, but to treat the underlying cause. Imagine treating a painful abscessed tooth with pain medication only. The pain medication will make it feel better for a while, but they are not treating the infection which is ultimately the underlying cause. Heel pain can become a debilitating condition that can have a significant impact on your general wellbeing. Be proactive and seek help sooner than later!

12/31/2020

Hoping Everyone Has Been Having A Wonderful Holiday!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!! From our Families to yours!

11/05/2020

Room For Rent!

10.5’X13.5’
Inside a Podiatry clinic
Shared kitchenette and laundry area.
Lease hold improvement negotiable.
Use of waiting room negotiable.
Ideal for health care practitioners.

Feel Free to call or message me for a viewing!

10/23/2020

Foot problems? Who can you see?

Navigating the health care system and all the different options available to you can be a challenge. Over the past 3 years, in Saskatchewan, there has been a significant funding shift for residents seeking foot care. Prior to the 2017 provincial budget, podiatry services offered through health regions were subsidized. Before March of 2017, the government felt there was value in funding podiatry care to residents of this province. That changed when, along with many other programs, podiatry funding was cut. The result of the cuts has caused a service shift. It has forced an environment where Saskatchewan residents with foot problems have considered less costly options. It has led to, at times, a dangerous health care environment. Do your homework. The last thing you want, is to receive care, and develop an infection because the proper standards weren’t met or the person providing the care wasn’t adequately trained. Health Canada requires any health care worker, who provides foot care, to use sterile instruments. The gold standard of sterilization is steam sterilization. Don’t be fooled by the fancy packaging that the instruments come in. Just because they’ve been packaged doesn’t mean they were sterilized. If care is not provided by a licensed health care provider, then the standards may not be the same. Actually, even if the care is provided by a licensed health care provider you need to ask questions. Be an informed consumer. Depending on your needs, you have some options. Some foot care providers have taken considerable training, others have not. Unfortunately, I have treated many patients who present with problems as a result of improper care from other care providers. Don’t become one of them!

10/15/2020

What’s a Podiatrist and should I see one?

In today’s world, we tend to see various health care professionals for a variety of different health conditions. That said, your feet tend to be forgotten. Foot pain can have a significant impact on both physical and mental health. Loss of mobility can significantly impact a person’s wellbeing. We see a dentist regularly because we know the importance of good oral health. We see an optometrist because we know without good vision our life will be impacted in a very significant way. Your feet should get no less attention. Most people don’t realize how valuable healthy feet are until they develop pain or a limitation in their regular activities. Sometimes foot and ankle problems will subside without specific treatment. But when they don't, the care of a podiatrist maybe in order. Podiatrists are medically trained foot and ankle specialists. On a daily basis podiatrists treat a wide range of conditions including arthritis pain, bunions, calluses and corns, ingrown toenails, sports injuries and more. They are trained to diagnose infections of the foot. They treat patients with foot and ankle complications related to obesity, diabetes, and peripheral arterial disease. Anyone reading this post who has been impacted by foot problems can attest to the impact it has had on their lives. Over the next several months I will be posting articles covering a variety of topics related to foot and ankle health. From the basics such as, what to look for in the person caring for your feet, to more complicated conditions such as heel pain. Over 20 years of practice I have treated many conditions that could have been prevented with some valuable information. I encourage you to read the articles that are coming.

10/13/2020

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

10/05/2020

Who is Dr. Ata Stationwala?

A leading podiatrist in Saskatchewan with 22 years of experience. Dr. Stationwala has been the president of the Saskatchewan College of Podiatrists for the past 17 years. Originally from Montreal, he resides in Moose Jaw with his with wife and two children.

He strives to provide the highest level of care to his patients in Saskatchewan.