Our Helpful TX Podiatrists Share Advice on How to Choose the Best Podiatrist for You
Every day, you put enormous pressure on your feet and ankles. When you walk, your feet must absorb approximately three times your body weight. If you are a runner, it’s over double that amount. Because you rely on your feet to get you where you want to go, it’s important that you keep them healthy and in good condition. 
With all the wear and tear on your feet and ankles, it’s likely that at some point in your life, you’ll need help from a podiatrist to diagnose a painful foot condition or problem. But finding the right podiatrist can be challenging. So, it’s important to consider what you want from a foot doctor and to evaluate your specific needs. The experienced podiatrists at Alliance Foot & Ankle Specialists offer advice on how to narrow your search to find just the right doctor for you.
Finding the best podiatrist for your unique situation isn’t as simple as picking a name out of a web search or your insurance company’s provider directory. Instead, it’s important to find someone whose experience and approach to patient care are a good fit for your foot and ankle needs and communication preferences.
6 Key Considerations to Help You Choose the Right Texas Foot Doctor
Whether you need to see a foot doctor for the first time or you’re considering changing podiatrists, there are six key factors that can help you make an informed decision and choose the best provider for your individual needs.
#1. Experience With Your Condition or Concerns
When choosing a podiatrist, it’s important to consider whether a provider has experience diagnosing and treating your particular issue or condition. After all, there are many potential causes of foot pain, and you should work with someone whose background is well-suited to your needs.
For example, some of the patients we treat at Alliance Foot & Ankle Specialists need help with foot issues related to medical conditions, such as diabetes or arthritis. Others benefit from our knowledge and skill in sports medicine. Finding out what conditions our podiatrists regularly treat can be as simple as reviewing our website or speaking with a staff member by phone.
#2. Confidence in Their Credentials and Skills
A podiatrist’s experience with a particular condition is important, as are their credentials. The path to becoming a podiatrist requires extensive education, and some foot doctors truly distinguish themselves in their field through extensive experience and work honors.
This holds true at Alliance Foot & Ankle Specialists, where our practice has earned numerous awards, and our foot doctors are widely recognized for their skills:
- Dr. Richard R. Nichols has more than thirty years of podiatric experience and has been recognized as the Top Doctor in his specialty by findatopdoc.com.
- Dr. Joseph Harvey began his education in materials engineering before becoming a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. He is board-certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
Additionally, Dr. Nichols and Dr. Harvey are both members of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).
#3. Stand-Out Recommendations and Reviews
You can learn a lot about a foot doctor by exploring what current and former patients say about them. That’s why it can be helpful to check out testimonials and reviews from patients who have worked directly with the podiatrists you are considering.
At Alliance Foot & Ankle Specialists, we’re so committed to making it easy for you to find this information, we publish testimonials from our patients on our website so you can easily find what actual patients have to say about our services and team.
#4. Caring Communication and Bedside Manner
It’s important to work with a foot doctor who communicates effectively and demonstrates caring and concern in their bedside manner. Pay close attention to how a podiatrist interacts with you during your first office visit to help you determine if they are a good fit for you.
Our team is committed to listening to the concerns of our patients, clearly explaining treatment options, and providing helpful answers to questions. We truly believe that effective, respectful, and helpful communication is an important key to a successful relationship between a patient and their podiatrist.
#5. Proactive Follow-up With Patients
It’s important to consider how effectively a podiatrist and/or someone from the office staff follows up with you about your foot problem, procedure, or surgery. If it’s your first visit to a podiatrist, you may want to ask the following questions:
- After I have a podiatric procedure, will someone from the practice reach out to check on my recovery?
- If I call the office with a question after treatment, will a team member get back to me right away?
- Does your office provide a free monthly newsletter featuring informative tips and best practices to help promote foot health and well-being?
The answers to these questions can help you make an informed decision about whether to continue seeing that podiatrist. You should feel confident that the podiatric practice you select will be responsive to your needs, even when you’re not in the office at a scheduled appointment.
#6. Convenient Location and Availability
When you need to see your podiatrist, it’s important to be able to get to their office without having to travel far outside of the area where you live or work for your appointment. At Alliance Foot & Ankle Specialists, we’re committed to providing convenient, easily accessible care to patients throughout Tarrant County.
We’re proud to treat patients at two Tarrant County locations: one in Grapevine and one in Keller. Our office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at both locations. However, we know that foot and ankle injuries don’t always keep standard office hours, so we’re also available for emergency appointments.
Choose the Best Foot Doctor for Your Needs
When you’re ready to move forward with choosing a podiatrist, take into consideration what you want and need from your doctor. If they don’t have good communication skills, a positive bedside manner, and experience with your specific foot problem, you may want to look elsewhere. Let Alliance Foot & Ankle Specialists be the team you call when you need a dedicated, compassionate, and experienced podiatrist who will support you through your foot- and ankle-related health care needs.