What skills does a podiatrist need?

A podiatrist needs 27 essential skills including dermatology, chiropody, human physiology, orthopaedic treatment alternatives, kinetics. Core competencies include .

Will AI replace podiatrist jobs?

The AI disruption score for podiatrist is 22/100 (low risk). Some tasks may be automated but the role will evolve rather than disappear entirely.

HealthcareHealth professionalsISCO 2269

podiatrist

Podiatrists are foot specialists who study foot physiology and pathology from a structural and functional standpoint. They assess, diagnose, and treat physical, sporting injuries, rehabilitation, medical and surgical problems of the foot and lower limb in their clinical practice. Podiatrists are active outside the clinical environment in research, medico-legal, and forensic activities. Podiatrists act within the scope of their podiatry training, experience, and regulating authority of their member country.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (27)

dermatologydermatologyDermatology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.chiropodychiropodyMedical practice dealing with disorders of the feet.human physiologyhuman physiologyThe science that studies the human organs and its interactions and mechanisms.orthopaedic treatment alternativesorthopaedic treatment alternativesThe appropriate available non-operative and operative treatment alternatives for common orthopaedic conditions and injuries, the benefits and limitations of each type of treatment as well as any poten...kineticskineticsThe study of movement and its causes.pharmacologypharmacologyPharmacology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.foot problemsfoot problemsConditions and disorders affecting the health and well being of feet such as fungal infections, ingrown nails, verrucas, smelly feet, flat feet and bunions.sterilization techniquessterilization techniquesThe methods and techniques used to destroy or remove microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria that can contaminate medical instruments or any type of material in a health care setting.biomechanicsbiomechanicsThe use of mechanical means to understand the function and structure of biological organisms.immunologyimmunologyImmunology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.health care systemhealth care systemThe structure and function of health care services.human anatomyhuman anatomyThe dynamic relationship of human structure and function and the muscosceletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, integumentary and nervous systems; normal and ...histologyhistologyThe microscopic analysis of cells and tissues.orthopaedic conditionsorthopaedic conditionsThe physiology, pathophysiology, pathology, and natural history of common orthopaedic conditions and injuries.behavioural therapybehavioural therapyThe characteristics and foundations of behavioural therapy, which focuses on changing patients` unwanted or negative behaviour. It involves studying the present behaviour and the means by which this c...recommend orthotic devicesrecommend orthotic devicesSuggest patients to use tailor-made insoles, padding and arch supports to relieve feet pain.manage healthcare users' datamanage healthcare users' dataKeep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, wr...promote foot healthpromote foot healthProvide information and guidance on means to keep one's feet healthy by wearing appropriate footwear or avoiding unhealthy practices such as fungal infections.conduct podiatry consultationconduct podiatry consultationAsses the condition of the patient`s feet by cutting his/hers toenails, removing any hard skin and checking for corns, calluses or verrucas and decide on a diagnosis.comply with quality standards related to healthcare practicecomply with quality standards related to healthcare practiceApply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associati...comply with legislation related to health carecomply with legislation related to health careComply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.interact with healthcare usersinteract with healthcare usersCommunicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.ensure safety of healthcare usersensure safety of healthcare usersMake sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing condit...develop a collaborative therapeutic relationshipdevelop a collaborative therapeutic relationshipDevelop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.apply context specific clinical competencesapply context specific clinical competencesApply professional and evidence based assessment, goal setting, delivery of intervention and evaluation of clients, taking into account the developmental and contextual history of the clients, within ...accept own accountabilityaccept own accountabilityAccept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.maintain medical devicesmaintain medical devicesEnsure all medical devices and appliances are properly stored and taken care of so they maintain their functionality and appearance.

Optional (15)

sport and exercise medicinesport and exercise medicinePrevention and treatement of injuries or conditions resulted from a physical activity or sport.orthoticsorthoticsThe manufacture and design of devices used to modify structural functions of the skeletal system.paediatricspaediatricsPaediatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.hydrotherapyhydrotherapyThe practice used to treat diseases or maintain overall health using water.rheumatologyrheumatologyRheumatology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.anaestheticsanaestheticsAnaesthetics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.podiatric surgerypodiatric surgeryThe surgical specialty used to treat conditions and deformities of the feet such as tendon, heel and hammer toe surgery.provide footwear advice to patientsprovide footwear advice to patientsInform patients on the types of footwear available and suitable for their feet conditions or disorders to increase foot well being.process medical insurance claimsprocess medical insurance claimsContact the patient`s health insurance company and submit the appropriate forms with information on the patient and treatment.record healthcare users' billing informationrecord healthcare users' billing informationRecord the healthcare user`s information for the billing of provided medical services.develop foot orthosesdevelop foot orthosesManufacture customised orthotic devices which support, align, prevent, protect or correct deformities of the feet.work in a multicultural environment in health carework in a multicultural environment in health careInteract, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.use foreign languages in patient careuse foreign languages in patient careCommunicate in foreign languages with healthcare users, their carers, or services providers. Use foreign languages to faciliate patient care according to the needs of the patient.refer healthcare usersrefer healthcare usersMake referrals to other professionals, based on the healthcare user's requirements and needs, especially when recognising that additional healthcare diagnostics or interventions are required.apply massage therapyapply massage therapyApply massage therapy to relieve patient's pain by using various specialised techniques.