There’s no denying that small businesses conduct themselves differently than their larger cousins in the big business world. Small businesses typically place added emphasis on customer service and personal attention; they never rush you in or out the door; their smiles seem genuine; and the business owner is usually hands-on in the day-to-day operations of the location.

What if that same small business approach to doing business was taken to the medical field? What if you could get that same level of service from your doctor? Luckily for residents of East Orlando and Lake Nona, such an office exists and the “customer first” culture found in many small businesses is a top priority every day at Total Foot and Ankle Center, Lake Nona.

Wanting to put his best foot forward (pun intended), longtime resident of Florida, Dr. Joseph Conte, DPM, AACFAS, co-owner of Total Foot and Ankle Center, Lake Nona, with his wife Nicole, started the podiatry focused practice in the fall of 2008 with one goal in mind: put the patients first.

“There are a lot of problems with modern medical care and the way it’s delivered, it’s not a secret that patients are unhappy, so we’re trying to change it for the better, at least in our office,” says Conte. “We do everything possible to make a patient’s experience here far and away from the typical ‘dreaded doctor’s visit’ that they’ve grown accustomed to.”

According to Conte, that mission to put a people-oriented approach to healthcare starts with running the office like a family-owned small business. “We keep that principle in mind no matter what we’re doing,” he says. “We treat our patients like family and like neighbors, because that’s what they really are - I live in this community, I work in this community and I want to get to know everyone and be the physician in the community that people have longed for.”

One of the main ways he accomplishes his customer-first goal is by catering to the needs of patients first, answering any questions they may have about their medical condition or their insurance. “We spend extra time with patients,” says Conte. “We also give patients an active role in deciding how they would like their issue to be treated if multiple methods are available. This way they’re much more likely to follow through with treatment as opposed to ‘Here’s two pills, call me in the morning’ or ‘Here’s an injection, see you in two weeks.’”

Whether its common foot issues like heel pain or ingrown toenails, or something more serious like complex ankle trauma or severe arthritic conditions and foot deformities, Conte and his staff can handle any type of podiatric issue for any age, child or adult, at their state-of-the-art office.

Using completely digital X-rays and electronic patient records allows the office to easily and effectively transmit records to hospitals, other doctors and even send prescriptions to pharmacies. “This way all patients have to do is pick up their prescription when it’s ready. It’s something small, but it’s one less thing for patients to worry about it and they appreciate that,” says Conte.

After his three year surgical residency program at Florida Hospital East Orlando, Conte knew he wanted to make this area his home for good. “When looking where to open my practice I wanted to go somewhere where I had an opportunity to grow along with the community, and Lake Nona is about as growing of a community as you’re going to find these days,” jokes Conte. “It was important to me, long-term, to have something that was going to grow around me for 30 years, where I could raise my daughter and where I could be proud to call home; and this area has exceeded my expectations.”

Having deep community roots doesn’t just stem from living and working in the area. It also comes from the community activities that Conte involves himself in. If he’s not volunteering at the Wycliffe Bible Translators underprivileged medical clinic down the road, you can find him at Lake Nona High School where he serves as the Official Team Podiatric Physician for all their sports programs. Recently, Conte was also named as an Associate Professor at the UCF Medical School. He has also manged to find time to  take an active role as part of the Physican Management Team at the Florida Hospital East Orlando Surgery Center.

But no matter what he does, it comes back to putting the patients first. “There’s no better feeling than helping someone return to full health,” says Conte. “It’s one of the main reasons I became a doctor and to help my neighbors feel better makes it all the more satisfying.”

To learn more about Total Foot and Ankle Center, Lake Nona, or to schedule your appointment, contact them today:

Total Foot and Ankle Center, Lake Nona
10417 Moss Park Rd.
Orlando, FL 32832
407.737.2751 - www.TotalFootandAnkleCenter.com

Article by Corey Gehrold