Southern California Podiatrist Defies Traffic and High Gas Prices to Make Home Visits for Seniors in L.A. and The OC
David Rizzo, D.P.M. treats common foot problems like toenail fungus and ingrown toenails at the unheard of rate of $35 per house call for senior citizens!
FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA -- In this day and age of virtual business transactions where even doctor consultations are conducted via the Internet, it's hard to imagine that modern medical care is still provided in the old fashioned tradition of coming to the patient's home. Yet, in defiance of impersonal trends, one podiatrist more than demonstrates a willingness to make the trek to the patient's door.
"I have been doing podiatry for 31 years," says Dr. David Rizzo, a Fullerton, California-based podiatrist who displays a penchant for going mobile. "During all that time I only had an office for six months and I hated it. I quickly sold it and went back on the road."
For Rizzo, he means that literally. His alter ego is none other than Dr. Roadmap -- one of the most recognizable names in providing alternate routes in gridlocked Southern California. In fact, it was his early years of making house calls to treat toenail fungus, and an ingrown toenail here and there, that provided Rizzo his opportunity to discover his secret routes.
At just $35 for a house call -- as long as the appointment can wait for 7-10 days (if the appointment is "rush," then the fee is $45) -- this podiatrist has to be the least expensive doctor on record. There are no extra charges unless a biopsy is required or surgical avulsion of a nail (which occurs just 1 or 2% of the time). But how can he do it so cheaply when gas averages $4 per gallon?
"Very simple," says Rizzo, "I run a strictly cash and carry business. When I walk out the door I either have a check or cash in hand. Medicare really doesn't pay for this service, and Medi-Cal certainly won't cover it, so I don't send any billing there or to any insurance company."
Even still. Where else can someone find a podiatrist who will drive from Santa Monica to the western borders of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, and from San Gabriel to San Clemente to attend to common podiatry problems such as nail fungus, ingrown toenails, and corns and calluses?
A house call can be arranged by calling (714) 879-8521.
----------
BIO
EXPERIENCE July 2000 to 2005: Contract foot doctor for the California Department of Corrections, Norco and Corona.
1990 to 2002: Contract foot doctor, City of Long Beach Health Dept.
1988: Assistant Surgeon, California Department of Corrections, Chino, CA.
1983-1986: Staff member, Department of Surgery, Banning Pass Memorial Hospital, Banning, CA.
1980-1985: Staff foot doctor, Patton State Hospital, Highland, CA.
1978-1985: Staff member, Department of Surgery, Loma Linda Community Hospital, Loma Linda, CA.
1976 to present: house call practice.
EDUCATION 1977-1978: Preceptorship with private practitioner, Louis Foreman, D.P.M., San Bernardino, CA.
1976: Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, CA.
1973: Bachelors of Basic Medical Science, Cal State Fullerton and California College of Podiatric Medicine.
MISCELLANEOUS 1977 to present: Over 100 speeches on topic of podiatric healthcare, given as "in-services" to home health agencies and to senior groups.
