Podiatrist Who is he/she?He/she is a health professional who carries out activities in the prevention and rehabilitative treatment of pathologies of the foot and walking in developmental, adult and geriatric age, according to the attributions provided by the Ministerial Decree of the Ministry of Health September 14, 1994, No. 666 and subsequent amendments and additions.What does he/she do?In particular, with reference to the diagnosis and prescription of the doctor, the podiatrist: also works in multidisciplinary team on the podiatric budget aimed at identifying and overcoming the health needs of the disabled practices independently therapeutic activities for the functional rehabilitation of disabilities of the foot, using podiatric therapies of habilitation and rehabilitation proposes the adoption of aids, trains in their use and verifies their effectiveness performs study, teaching and professional consulting activities in health services and those where his or her professional skills are required verifies the correspondences of the rehabilitation methodology implemented to the objectives of functional recovery can be responsible in organizing and planning professional acts within the scope of his or her competencies, can also be included in research groups. Where does he/she work?He/she carries out his/her professional activities in health care facilities, public or private, on a dependent or freelance basis. In particular, within the Regional Health System in private facilities accredited and affiliated with the SSR, clinics, rehabilitation facilities and centers, Health Care Residences, spas, medical clinics and/or multi-specialty clinics. Current regulations also allow the performance of freelance activities in individual or associated professional practices, sports associations or clubs in the various types, service cooperatives, nongovernmental organizations, and public or private prevention services. At the level of the SSR, the need for this professional figure is expected to increase, also in relation to the priority health problems highlighted by the WHO, such as the prevention and treatment of complications of chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus and rheumatological conditions, for which the figure of the podiatrist is recognized as indispensable in the multidisciplinary teams that must take care of these patients.
