The LifeStyle Podiatry LEAP Program

The Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention (LEAP) Program began in 1996 as an intervention designed to prevent lower extremity amputations in diabetics. The LEAP project combines provider and patient education in foot care with the use of a simple diabetic foot screening examination using a specialized inexpensive tool, the monofilament, to detect loss of protective sensation in the feet, with a scoring system to identify persons with diabetes who are at elevated risk for developing foot disease, and office system modifications to assure implementation and appropriate referrals.

Assessment of provider and patient outcomes will measure changes in foot care as determined by frequency and quality of documented foot exams and referrals, whether there are improved diabetic outcomes measured by decreased incidence of foot ulcers and amputations, change in overall health knowledge and awareness by diabetics, and changes in provider and patient knowledge, attitudes and behaviors.

At LifeStyle Podiatry, The LEAP Program combines prevention (Basic LEAP) with a conservative management approach reserving surgery as a last resort.

1.  Annual foot screening or podiatry visits prn

2.  Ongoing patient education

3.  Selection of proper fitting and designed footwear

4.  Daily foot self inspection

5.  Care of callous, nail and skin problems

6.  Prevention and Treatment of foot ulcerations and Charcot fractures.

7.  Functional FootTyping and fabrication of  Weight Distributing and Balancing Custom Foot Orthotics

8.  Updated reports to Internal Medicine/Endocrinology to inform the patient’s diabetes health care team.

Note: When referring patient’s for The LifeStyle Podiatry LEAP Program, any documentation regarding diabetes history and treatment is appreciated.

BACK     HOME