Reducing the rate of amputations in acute diabetic foot infections
Jeffrey M. Robbins, DPM
Director, Podiatry Service, Veterans Administration Central Office; chief, Podiatry Services, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), Cleveland, OH
Bonnie J. Nicklas, DPM
Staff surgeon, Podiatry Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland VAMC, Cleveland, OH
Sarah Augustine, MD
Inpatient medical director, Louis Stokes Cleveland VAMC, Cleveland, OH
Address: Jeffrey M. Robbins, DPM, Podiatry Service, Louis Stokes VAMC, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106; e-mail Jeffrey.robbins@med.va.gov
ABSTRACTMany older diabetic patients present to the emergency room with limb-threatening foot complications, and may at the same time need attention to life-threatening endocrine, cardiac, or renal complications. To better serve the elderly veteran population at our institution, we designed a multidisciplinary, algorithmic approach that links the podiatry and medicine services to facilitate appropriate referral, admission, and management, with the ultimate goal of reducing the rate of amputations.