Podiatry
Podiatry is the non-medical treatment of the foot . The name is derived from the Greek pous (πούς) - genitive podos (ποδός) - for "foot" and logos (λόγος) for "language / teaching".
The measures taken by podiatrists are diverse and arise from the areas of internal medicine (diabetology), dermatology , surgery and orthopedics . They include preventive and curative therapeutic measures relating to the foot. In Germany, podiatrists are defined as a medical profession and non-medical medical profession due to the Podiatry Act (PodG) . Most podiatrists are licensed to work with health insurance , as diabetics with consequential damage to the foot in the sense of diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) - as the only group so far - can receive a medication prescription for podiatry complex treatment from the doctor from the health insurance companies (both statutory and private) .
Podologists work as independent service providers in their own podiatry practices with or without health insurance approval, as freelancers in a group practice or community practice or as employees in hospitals or special foot clinics with other professional groups such as doctors, orthopedic shoemakers , orthopedic technicians or physiotherapists , occupational therapists, etc.
legal framework
Germany
In Germany, the Podiatry Act (PodG) and the Training and Examination Ordinance for Podologists (PodAPrV) regulate the professional profile and training to become a podiatrist.
The professional title “Podologist” has been protected by law since 2002 and the professional title “Medical Podiatrist” since 2003: A person practicing as a podiatrist can only actually call himself that way with an official permit to use the professional title. The unlawful use of the professional title “Podologist” or “Medical podiatrist” is an administrative offense that can be punished with a fine (up to € 2500) on the basis of Section 9 PodG .
Before the PodG came into force, practicing medical podiatrists were able to qualify as podiatrists in a transitional period running from 2002 to 2006 with a supplementary examination in the sense of safeguarding the status quo.
In 2012 a podiatry course was established for the first time. It runs over a period of three years and concludes with a Bachelor of Science in Podology (B.Sc. Podology).
The regulation of the training and the representation of interests of the working people in this area are taken over by the German Association for Podology .
Switzerland
Podiatry is a very widespread specialist group in Switzerland. However, the legal requirements in Switzerland are fundamentally different from those in Germany. The training to become a podiatrist EFZ is a three-year full-time apprenticeship, which ends with the federal certificate of proficiency.
For self-employment, in most cantons, further training to become a dipl. Podiatrist HF required. In the further education to the dipl. Podiatrist HF attaches particular importance to the treatment of high-risk patients. In German-speaking Switzerland, the training lasts three years part-time and comprises a total of 3600 hours of learning. The course is based on a federally approved framework curriculum.
Medical foot care is regulated in most cantonal health ordinances. In order to practice their profession, podiatrists need a license from the respective cantonal health authority.
France
There are a total of eleven podiatry universities in France. These universities prepare students for taking the state-recognized podiatry diploma. After this university, another bachelor's or master's degree and later a doctorate can follow. Access to these universities is usually guaranteed through a qualification test. The Abitur is also a prerequisite. In addition to the state universities, there are also private schools for podiatry. The training comprises three years of theory and practice.
The field of foot treatments (medical foot care) is comparable to the German professional field of podiatry. Here, too, medical therapy can only take place within the framework of a doctor's instruction. Operations or technical diagnostic procedures such as B. X-rays are not allowed in France, as in Germany, the podiatrist. In addition to the French orthopedic shoemakers, podiatry in France also manufactures custom-made orthopedic insoles.
Spain
In Spain, podiatry is a field of study that partly runs together with medical studies and therefore ends with an academic university degree (diploma). You can then pursue a master’s degree or a doctorate in podiatry. The standard period of study is approx. 4 years and during this time 240 ECTS are to be taken in subject areas. There are 12 universities in Spain for podiatry. The contents of this podiatry university course are, in addition to the basic medical subjects such as B. anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and pathology also the subjects radiology, pharmacology, general medicine and special surgery on the foot. Podiatry in Spain therefore carries out its own examinations with the aim of establishing a diagnosis and a subsequent choice of therapy, which can also be accompanied by smaller, local operations on the foot.
Portugal
Podiatry activities in the Republic of Portugal are comparable to those in neighboring Spain. Here, too, minor foot operations are performed by the podiatry. In Portugal it has been possible to study since 1994, but from 1997 onwards the academic degree (diploma) podiatry is awarded. Portugal was one of the first countries to offer Bachelor and Master degrees according to the Bologna Process of Podiatry. The standard course in Portugal lasts three years (6 semesters), two more years (8 semesters) for the bachelor's degree and another two years (a total of 10 semesters) for the master's in podiatry (300 ECTS). There is a regular professional exchange on podiatry topics with the Latin American country Brazil, e.g. through congresses and other joint events.
Greece
In Greece there are still no legal regulations for the professional group of podiatrists. Thus, podiatry does not yet belong to the group of medically regulated professions. Many of the podiatrists who are established and active in Greece have completed their training abroad. At the moment there is only one training institute in Greece that trains according to both European and German guidelines. The training lasts 4 years, including 3 years of theory and practice in the training institute, as well as 1 year of purely practical training in a podiatry practice. However, due to the lack of laws and controls, all foot care activities in Greece are referred to as podiatry, even if cosmetic treatments are in the foreground. Idealistic podiatrists therefore demand legally regulated training and the creation of a professional profile on an international basis. Two Greek podiatry associations are committed to this.
Austria
In Austria, too, podiatry foot care is associated with its own training and the highest hygiene standards. But there are also companies that manufacture proprioceptive soles under the name Podologie. For this reason, the term podiatry always leads to confusion, because the name podiatry is not protected in Austria and is not clearly assigned to any training path. Therapy soles are also offered under Pododynamik (protected brand in Austria and Switzerland) and optimal success is supported by constructive exercises, which are very closely related to physiotherapy training.
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ Association of German Podiatrists: The first podiatry students started their studies in Neutraubling ( Memento of the original from December 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed November 28, 2013
- ↑ CH, Podontology ( Memento of the original from May 29, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
Web links
- Central Association of Podiatrists and Podiatrists in Germany V.
- Text of the Podiatry Law
- Association of German Podologists (VDP) e. V.
- German Podiatric Association V.
- Info website for podiatry studies
- Swiss Podiatric Association SPV
