Podiatry Unfiltered

Dr. Michele McGowan explains why small and independent podiatry practices should add in-house 3D printed custom orthotics as a profitable, patient-benefiting service with faster turnaround than traditional lab-made devices. She contrasts the old model—casting/scanning, paying labs $80–$150+ per pair, and waiting 4+ weeks—with her OLT-based workflow: a 2-minute iPhone scan, cloud prescription, quick file return, simple software setup, and printing (about 3–6 hours) with next-day delivery. She discusses pricing ($550 per pair; $275 for a second reprint), bundling orthotics with therapies like Softwave/laser (e.g., a “Heel Pain Blaster” package), and how this boosts outcomes and revenue without adding patient volume. She also advises students/residents to learn the workflow cheaply and use it to stand out, and she offers a paid course and limited coaching via [email protected]. 00:00 Why Orthotics Matter 00:43 From Skeptic to Believer 01:55 Student Side Hustle Idea 04:28 Traditional Lab Model Costs 05:54 3D Printing Workflow 08:29 Turnaround and Profit Math 12:23 Bundling With Therapies 13:36 Advice for Students Residents 15:51 Course and Coaching Offer 17:55 Protect Independent Practice #custom orthotics #podiatry 3D printing orthotics #foot orthotics #podiatrist t #custom foot orthotics #in-house orthotics #3D printed custom orthotics #private practice podiatry #podiatry business #independent podiatry practice #podiatry practice tips #podiatry income

I explains how I redesigned office staffing by hiring motivated gap year students (future med, PA, and NP applicants) for front office, back office, and billing roles to address rising costs while staying profitable. I share the uncomfortable reality of balancing being a good employer with financial sustainability, and compares her model to McDonald’s: young workers guided by one experienced manager. I detail my hiring funnel—an Indeed post written specifically for gap year applicants at $18/hour, Zoom pre-screens, then in-person interviews—and emphasizes the trade: students gain rare clinical and operational experience and strong letters of recommendation, while the practice gains fast-learning, tech-native staff. The approach works because of strong SOPs and training videos, accepts predictable turnover, and leverages part-time flexibility to match real clinic schedules and improve the P&L.

Podiatrist Michele McGowan reflects on how private practices across specialties are facing the same pressures—lower reimbursement, higher overhead, rising payroll and supply costs, growing administrative burden, private equity acquisitions, and hospital systems absorbing independent medicine—despite independent practices being profitable and valuable. She explains how she and her husband transformed their practice over the last four years by stepping away from low-paying insurance models, dropping certain insurances, implementing transparent cash pricing, and adding services not dependent on insurance approval, resulting in more time with patients, better outcomes, and less chaos. McGowan argues high-volume medicine harms care and shares that patients want present, unburned-out doctors who build long-term relationships. She introduces the Independent Doctors Network as a cross-specialty community to share strategies on cash services, AI/technology, sustainable operations, and practice-building resources via a webpage and Facebook group.