Sorry Ed, but I have to agree with Buckwheat.

Buckwheat wrote,"I am going to have to disagree with you about sending patients to the physicians about getting tests." I've sent patients to their MDs for scripts for "custom made orthotics" as a courtesy for the patient to make sure that all the steps were being done in sequential order so that the patients would get extended health insurance coverage. Well many times the MD simply referred the patient to the local PT clinic where the orthotic fee was $250-$300 that was lower than my standard $450 fee and of course while the patient waited for their orthotics they received 4-10 physio sessions at $30-$50 each. I also had a patient who needed oral antibiotics to reduce the infection and severe edema that a patient had with an ingrown toenail so guess where the MD sent the patient? After a week of oral Ab, the patient was sent to another MD buddy that did the pna fully covered by OHIP. I found out because I called the patient 2 weeks later trying to book her for the pna and found out that the toe was now in the healing phase. I also sent a patient to a MD for a blood test to find out if he had gout or a stress fracture. He didn't and so the patient was referred for physio for his sore toe and that where he got his orthotics.

When I asked my own MD for possible referrals (you can tell I'm starting to get desperate to get patients) he said, "Sorry my patients want the OHIP covered chiropody at the hospital and that's where I have to refer them. Heck even the old guys don't want to pay $20 for a PSA test that's more accurate than the "poke and palpation" that is covered by OHIP. So I poke them and hope that my palpation of the posterior aspect of their protrate is somewhat accurate." When I asked how he found out about the free chiropody clinic he showed me the hospital's newsletter and there was an article on the front page. The article went on about how this was a vital service for the community and that there was NO CHARGE (emphasis is mine, I can't advertise free consultations... but hospitals can announce free chiropody service) for the chiropody services and a MD referral would be necessary.