High Risk Foot Service

Welcome to the High Risk Foot Service (HRFS). The HRFS uses a multi-disciplinary team approach to manage patients with complex foot pathologies due to medical disorders such as Diabetes Mellitus. The main aim of the HRFS is to provide the best care possible for patients with high risk feet in order to reduce and prevent foot ulceration, infection, hospital admissions and lower extremity amputations. The HRFS liaises closely with other medical departments such as Endocrinology, Vascular, Infectious Disease, Orthotics / Prosthetics, Wound Care Nurses and Community Nurses to achieve the best possible of care for our patients. We are continuing to build on our strong clinical reputation for offering the most up-to-date evidence based medicine for treating high risk feet. We continue to invest in new technology and staff to help us achieve our goal of being one of Australia's leading High Risk Foot Services.

HRFS manages the following typical pathologies which relate to the high risk foot:

• Diabetes Mellitus
• Peripheral arterial / vascular disease
• Peripheral Neuropathy
• Charcot Neuropathic Osteoarthropathy
• Previous or current foot ulceration
• Infection management in relation to the foot (Diabetic Foot Infections)
• Previous or current amputation
• Pathologies likely to endanger patient safety or integrity of the lower limb

HRFS Areas of Interest / Projects / Research

• Diabetic Foot Ulceration
• Diabetic Foot Screening
• Inpatient management with high risk foot pathology in liaison with the Vascular Dept.
• Ambulatory IV management of acute foot infections
• Indigenous diabetic foot screening "The Miller Project"
• Research into diabetic foot complications
• Collaborations with leading medical institutes and researchers

Staffing

• 8 Podiatrists
• Multi-disciplinary team: Vascular, Infectious Disease, Endocrinology, Orthopaedics
• Medical Governance is provided by Professor Hugh Dickson.