Sugar Land
281-313-0090
Richmond/Rosenberg
281-342-8700
New Patients
Your first visit to Foot & Ankle Associates establishes a vital foundation for our relationship with you. During the first visit, we make sure to obtain important background information, like your medical history, and give you time to get to know your doctor. To understand what to expect for your first visit to our practice, please read through this page. You'll find all the practical information you need, such as a map and directions to our office, practice hours, payment policies and more. There's also background information about our committed staff and our first visit procedures. You can even save some time at your first visit by printing out and completing the patient forms in advance of your appointment.
Patient Forms
New foot care patients are always welcome. All new patients are asked to complete the medical history and patient registration forms, and should present their insurance card(s) and identification upon their first visit with our office. We ask that all new patients arrive a minimum of 20 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment in order to complete the registration process. Patients who have already completed the registration forms (by accessing them through our web site or by picking them up at our office) need only arrive 10 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment time.
Patient privacy is important to us. Please review our privacy policy.
In order to view or print these forms you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. Click here to download it.
Newsletters
Be sure to read FootNotes and FootPrints, our quarterly newsletter with tips on caring for your feet.
| FootNotes | FootPrints | |
Mission Statement
Our practice is working together to realize a shared vision of uncompromising excellence in podiatric care.
To fulfill this mission, we are committed to:
- Listening to those we are privileged to serve.
- Earn the trust and respect of patients, profession and community.
- Exceed your expectations.
- Ensure a creative, challenging and compassionate professional environment.
- Strive for continuous improvement at all levels.
What to expect
Being well-prepared for your appointment will ensure that the doctor has all of the needed information to provide the best possible care for you. It also will help relieve any unnecessary anxiety you may be feeling. Educate yourself on your symptoms by reviewing the content on this Web site. Also, take some time to review our staff page and familarize yourself with the doctors. We look forward to your first visit.
Announcements
Press Release
New Survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association Finds Foot Problems are a Major Deterrent to Exercise
Podiatrists are physicians, surgeons and specialists who perform tests like gait analysis (shown above) as part of a comprehensive biomechanical examination.
Bethesda, MD – A staggering 72 percent of Americans say they do not exercise because foot pain prevents them from doing so, according to a recent survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). This finding, when viewed in light of the soaring rates of US obesity as reported by the Centers for Disease Control, makes visiting a podiatrist and addressing foot pain critically important.
The study surveyed 1,000 US adults, ages 18 and older, to gain public opinion on attitudes toward foot health and foot care. Results showed that Americans view their feet as the least important body part in terms of their health and well-being. However, feet were the number one body part to experience pain, even more so than the teeth or skin. As foot pain contributes to a variety of negative health consequences, it is important that Americans seek the care of a podiatrist immediately if problems arise.
The survey results support the launch of the Today’s Podiatrist campaign, which increases awareness about the specialized medical training and unique qualifications a podiatrist has in treating the foot and ankle.
“Podiatrists are physicians, surgeons and specialists who treat diseases, injuries and deformities of the foot and ankle,” said APMA president Kathleen Stone, DPM. “We should be part of everyone’s health-care team, but it is especially important for those experiencing regular foot pain to seek care from a podiatrist.”
It is critical that people pay attention to their feet and seek expert treatment for foot problems. A podiatrist can not only help ensure Americans are able to exercise, but also help catch signs of diabetes, arthritis, and nerve and circulatory disorders, which can all be detected in the feet.
*Single Podiatrist Visit: $3.5 Billion in US Health-Care Savings Per Year
Results Now Published in Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association
Bethesda, MD – If every American at risk for developing a diabetic foot ulcer visited a podiatrist once before complications set in, the US health-care system could save $3.5 billion in one year. Closing this gap in podiatric care would reduce health-care waste on preventable conditions, which reportedly starts at $25 billion, by 14 percent.
This estimation is a projection based on findings from a Thomson Reuters study published in the March/April 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association (JAPMA).
The study’s numbers were based upon the American population that has either commercial insurance (116 million) or Medicare (46 million) in the Thomson Reuters MarketScan Research Database. Sponsored by APMA and independently conducted by Thomson Reuters, the study measured the health-care records of nearly 500,000 patients with commercial insurance and/or Medicare.
"The study’s findings are astounding. If just one individual at risk for a foot ulcer sees a podiatrist once before a foot ulcer becomes apparent, they will have singlehandedly saved our country nearly $20,000 over three years," said Kathleen Stone, DPM, president of APMA. "This data does not even include the 47 million uninsured Americans or the 58 million currently on Medicaid, who have a higher incidence of diabetes and complications. The bottom line is that seeing a podiatrist saves limbs and lives, and equates to billions of needed dollars saved for America’s health-care system."
After comparing health and risk factors for those who had seen a podiatrist for care to those who did not, the commercial insurance group saved $19,686 per patient over a three-year period. The Medicare group saved $4,271 per patient over the same three years. Conservatively projected, these per-patient numbers support an estimated $10.5 billion in savings over three years ($3.5 billion a year).
Including today’s podiatrist in the diabetes management team is a vital step to preventing ulcers and amputation. Recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics show that in 2006, more than 65,000 lower limb amputations were performed in the US due to diabetes-related complications.
Diabetes currently affects nearly 26 million people in the US, seven million of whom are undiagnosed.
*Shoes4School.org
On Saturday May 2, at Oyster Creek Park in Sugar Land, Tx, Shoes4School did as promised and successfully donated new shoes to Local area kids in need. The donations were well received as could be witnessed by the nice Thank you letters from the happy children as well as the smiles on their parent's faces. Shoes4School raised $2,395.00 from walkers and pledges and collected over 60 pairs of shoes and back packs from local area families. The event had a Special Guest appearance by Sugar Land's City Council Woman Jacquie Baley Chaumette who stopped by and wished all the walkers well and Congratulated Shoes 4 School for its charitable efforts in the community.
The "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" walk was a further success in that the children and their families walked 1 to 3 miles to the beat of the Shoes4School Cadence which has a "sole-ful" tune about Shoes and Pride. The walk and Cadence was led by Professional Fitness trainer, June Hruska. The group had warmed up properly at the assistance of Shape Up Sugar Land's Director, Nicole Volek, who was also the co-host and is dedicated to keeping Fort Bend residents fit. Afterwards, the walkers returned to almost a festival like atmosphere to clowns, face painting, door prizes and with the children dancing and singing to Karaoke.
The Children received their shoes and they were very happy. Everyone wanted to express their happiness to Fort Bend's own Dr. Marco Vargas who made the walk possible and also personally sponsored 25 children. Dr. Vargas, a Podiatrist who has partnered with Shoes4School is putting serious effort into helping with Shoes 4 School's vision of making sure no child has a hole in their sole. The children were excited that they were able to attend and each of the children was given fun packs, new shoes and a lot of hope. Shoes 4 School's slogan is "A hole in the sole can leave a hole in the Soul". Both, Shoes4School's Director Leola Anifowoshe, Dr. Vargas or any of their Community Partners known as "Sole Mates" want that to happen and that is one main reason for their dedication to this Cause.
Aside from Special donations like the shoes, participants will have a host of activities to participate in that will keep the focus on fitness. The next big event is The "Shoes4School's 2009 Sole- Fest back to School Extravaganza!" At this event, we hope to partner with 100 Area business people (Sole Mates) and will donate to 500 families new shoes, socks and backpacks - chock full with school supplies! There will also be a battle of the bands (jazz). This is a fundraising event and admission is free, however you can pre purchase raffle tickets for $10 each or 4 for $25.00. Items to be raffled include a laptop computer, wii Fit, Autographed Yao Ming Jersey, Deluxe Spa Packages, Free Dinners from Fine Restaurants, and a lot more. Vendor booths are available and Volunteers needed. If you are interested in joining in this cause to be one of the "100" shoe drive sponsors, please Log onto Shoes4School.orgfor more details!
