As explained by the Ordre des podiatres du Québec:
The podiatrist is a professional who is authorized by law to treat local foot disease, and also to practise radiology and podiatric ultrasonography and to prescribe medication.
The podiatrist received an undergraduate doctor’s degree in podiatric medicine after four years of study and internship at university. In Canada, the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières is the only university to offer a podiatric medicine program.
No. The podiatrist is a frontline health professional that you see directly without reference from a doctor.
Unfortunately, the Régie de l’Assurance Maladie du Québec never reimburses a podiatrist’s fees. The podiatrist mostly works in the private sector. However, most private insurance policies reimburse fees incurred by patients in part or in total.
A podiatrist has a four-year academic training in podiatric medicine and is a health professional that evaluates, diagnoses and treats local foot illnesses. In comparison, feet are to the podiatrist what the mouth is to the dentist.
A podiatrist is governed by the Quebec Professional Code, the Podiatry Act and other regulations, and is authorized to prescribe and sell foot orthoses. http://www.ordredespodiatres.qc.ca
The orthotist has three-year technical college training and thus can design and make any orthosis for the human body. Under the law, the orthotist cannot make an evaluation, diagnose, or prescribe an orthosis. So, he or she makes the foot orthosis according to the biomechanical evaluation or the doctor’s or the podiatrist’s diagnosis. http://www.aopq.ca
The term “chiropodist” is only used and recognized in France. People who claim to be chiropodists do not have any recognized training in Quebec.
It is possible to see a podiatrist as soon as an anomaly regarding lower limbs or children’s posture is suspected, or from the early months of life of the child.
The podiatrist has the required skills to evaluate birth defects, delays in motor development, growth anomalies, neurological conditions, injuries and dermatological conditions at the lower limbs.
Upon your arrival at the clinic, you will have to fill a short form with some information about your health history. So we recommend that you prepare a list of the drugs you take and your known allergies with your history of disease and surgery. In that manner, the podiatrist will have the required information to better understand your podiatric situation.
Mentioning certain details about your health may seem a small thing. The human body makes up a whole, and the different systems influence one another.
Furthermore, the podiatrist will want to have a look at your shoes to better evaluate your problem. So it will be important to bring the shoes you wear the most or that seem to cause your symptoms.
You should see a podiatrist if you have foot pains, whether they are acute or chronic, if you wonder about your posture or foot deformities, or if you worry about visible anomalies.
Secteur Gatineau
456, boul. de l’Hôpital,
Gatineau, J8T 8M5
Tél. : 819-568-0456
Responsable de la protection des renseignements personnels : Dre Lynda Cormier, podiatre cpogatineau.cpo@gmail.com ou (819) 568-0456.