title: Do you want to organize a multidisciplinary diabetic foot clinic? We can help.
abstract: The diabetic foot (DF) is a complex pathology involving the lower limb of 8 to 10 million people around the world, and its prevalence is rising, creating a dramatic need for effective therapeutic answers. The multidisciplinary DF clinic has been proposed as a model to fight this complication from the International Working Group on Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) inside a more articulated 3-level organization strategy. The organization and technical aspects of this strategy, together with the characteristics of each of the 3 levels have been analyzed and described in the article, together with the aims and limitations of each of the levels to cope with a 3-dimensional pathology involving systemic, local, and logistic aspects. The implementation of this model in Europe produced positive results measured so far in at least 2 nationwide experiences, in Germany and in Italy, and it should be taken in account whenever health policies apply to the DF issue.
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy piaggesi@immr.med.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piaggesi
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coppelli
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goretti
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iacopi
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mattaliano
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D019468:Disease Management; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007391:International Cooperation; D007558:Italy; D017146:Models, Organizational; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: delivery of care; diabetic foot; implementation; organization