Fax: (239) 692-9436
Tel: 239-430-3668The Digital House Call: How Telemedicine Redefined My Practice
January 28 2026
Revolutionizing podiatry from the exam room to your living room! Since the pandemic, telemedicine has changed the game for our patients at Family Foot and Leg Center! Don’t let distance stop you from walking pain-free!
If you had asked me in 2019 how often I’d be diagnosing a patient’s foot ailment through a smartphone screen, my answer would have been “rarely, if ever.” In podiatry, we are a hands-on specialty. We palpate for pulses, debride wounds, and feel for the subtle misalignments in a patient’s gait. However, the COVID-19 pandemic acted as a sudden and irreversible catalyst, forcing our practice at Family Foot and Leg Center to bridge the gap between physical distance and essential care.
Now, years after the initial surge, telemedicine has transitioned from a temporary “emergency kit” to a permanent, sophisticated wing of my clinical toolkit. In Naples, where our patient demographic ranges from active young athletes to a significant senior population, the impact has been profound.
Streamlining the Patient Experience
One of the most immediate benefits I’ve seen in my Naples practice is the reduction of “geographic friction.” Many of our patients travel from Marco Island or inland Collier County. For a post-operative check-up – where I primarily need to ensure the incision is healing cleanly – asking a patient to navigate Southwest Florida traffic for a 10-minute visual confirmation is often unnecessary.
Today, we use telemedicine for:
Initial Consultations: Discussing symptoms of bunions, hammertoes, or heel pain before the patient ever steps foot in the office.
Post-Operative Follow-ups: Confirming recovery milestones and reviewing wound care protocols.
Imaging Reviews: Discussing X-ray or MRI results where the primary goal is patient education and planning.
Triage: Determining if an “emergency” (like a sudden gout flare or a splinter from the Naples Pier) requires an immediate office visit or can be managed conservatively at home.
The Impact on High-Risk Care
The “stingray shuffle” and shell-related lacerations are common here, but the real silent threat is the diabetic foot.
Telemedicine has revolutionized how we monitor these chronic conditions. By integrating asynchronous care – where patients upload high-resolution photos via our secure portal – we can catch “hot spots” or early signs of Charcot foot before they become catastrophic.
This “shared care” model has strengthened the bond between our medical team and our patients’ home caregivers. We can coach a family member on how to properly dress a wound or use a pulse oximeter in real-time. It empowers the patient and ensures that when they do come into the office, it is for a high-value procedure that requires my physical presence.
Overcoming the “Touch” Barrier
The biggest challenge remains the inherent limitation of a 2D screen. You cannot feel the “boiling” sensation of a deep tissue infection or the rigidity of a joint via Zoom. As a podiatrist, I have had to refine my communication skills, asking more pointed, descriptive questions to help the patient describe their own physical sensations.
We’ve also had to navigate the technological learning curve. While man of our “Silver Coast” seniors are surprisingly tech-savvy, we ensure our staff at Family Foot and Leg Center provides clear, patient-friendly instructions to make the digital check-in as seamless as walking through our front door.
The Future: A Hybrid Model of Excellence
Looking ahead, I don’t see podiatry ever returning to a 100% in-person model. The efficiency gains are too great to ignore. For the physician, it reduces burnout by allowing for a more flexible schedule; for the patient, it provides a level of accessibility that respects their time and mobility.
Telemedicine hasn’t replaced the traditional exam; it has enhanced it. It allows us to reserve our physical exam rooms for the intricate surgeries and hands-on treatments that FFLC is known for, while maintaining a constant, watchful eye on our patients’ recovery through the digital lens.
In the end, whether I’m seeing a patient in our East Naples office or through a tablet while they sit in their living room, the mission remains the same: We keep you walking. Telemedicine is simply one more way we ensure that journey is a smooth one.
If you are experiencing foot pain and would prefer a telemedicine appointment, please contact Dr. Chapman’s office immediately at (239) 430-3668 (FOOT) or visit www.NaplesPodiatrist.com
For foot and ankle problems, a professional evaluation can help determine the cause and appropriate next steps.
(239) 430-3668 (FOOT)
www.NaplesPodiatrist.com
Serving Southwest Florida Since 2005, Family Foot & Leg Center has multiple convenient locations throughout Collier, Lee, Charlotte, and Sarasota Counties. Offering pediatric to geriatric family care: Ingrown Toenails, Heel Pain, Bunions, Foot / Ankle Arthritis Pain, Plantar Fasciitis, Foot / Ankle Surgery, Custom Orthotics, and Diabetic Wound Care. In office X-rays, ultrasounds, and minor surgical suite exam rooms. Practice powered by EMR and advanced technologies.
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For advanced wound management and diabetic wound healing resources, visit:
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