§ 7001. Definition of practice of podiatry. 1. The practice of the profession of podiatry is defined as diagnosing, treating, operating and prescribing for any disease, injury, deformity or other condition of the foot, and may include performing physical evaluations in conjunction with the provision of podiatric treatment. For the purposes of wound care however, the practice of podiatry shall include the treatment of such wounds if they are contiguous with wounds relating, originating or in the course of treatment of a wound on the foot within the podiatric scope of practice. Wound care shall not, however, extend beyond the level ending at the distal tibial tuberosity. The practice of podiatry may also include diagnosing, treating, operating and prescribing for any disease, injury, deformity or other condition of the ankle and soft tissue of the leg below the tibial tuberosity if the podiatrist has obtained an issuance of a privilege to perform podiatric standard ankle surgery or advanced ankle surgery in accordance with section seven thousand nine of this article. Podiatrists may treat traumatic open wound fractures only in hospitals, as defined in Article 28 of the public health law. For the purposes of this article, the term "ankle" shall be defined as the distal metaphysis and epiphysis of the tibia and fibula, the articular cartilage of the distal tibia and distal fibula, the ligaments that connect the distal metaphysis and epiphysis of the tibia and fibula and talus, and the portions of skin, subcutaneous tissue, facia, muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves at or below the level of the myotendinous junction of the triceps surae.

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2. The practice of podiatry shall not include treating any part of the human body other than the foot, nor treating fractures of the malleoli or cutting operations upon the malleoli unless the podiatrist obtains an issuance of a privilege to perform podiatric standard ankle surgery or podiatric advanced ankle surgery. Podiatrists who have obtained an issuance of a privilege to perform podiatric standard ankle surgery may perform surgery on the ankle which may include soft tissue and osseous procedures except those procedures specifically authorized for podiatrists who have obtained an issuance of a privilege for advanced ankle surgery. Podiatrists who have obtained an issuance of a privilege to perform podiatric advanced ankle surgery may perform surgery on the ankle which may include ankle fracture fixation, ankle fusion, ankle arthroscopy, insertion or removal of external fixation pins into or from the tibial diaphysis at or below the level of the myotendinous junction of the triceps surae, and insertion and removal of retrograde tibiotalocalcanneal intramedullary rods and locking screws up to the level of the myotendinous junction of the triceps surae, but does not include the surgical treatment of complications within the tibial diaphysis related to the use of such external fixation pins. Podiatrists licensed to practice, but not authorized to prescribe or administer narcotics prior to the effective date of this subdivision, may do so only after certification by the department in accordance with the qualifications established by the commissioner. The practice of podiatry shall include administering only local anesthetics for therapeutic purposes as well as for anesthesia and treatment under general anesthesia administered by authorized persons. The practice of podiatry by any licensee shall not include partial or total ankle replacements nor the treatment of pilon fractures.

3. (a) The department shall conduct a study to determine whether to make available to the public profiles on podiatrists who have obtained an issuance of a privilege to perform podiatric standard or advanced ankle surgery pursuant to subdivisions one and two of section seven thousand nine of this article. Such study shall include consideration of whether it would be appropriate and feasible for the department to make publicly available profiles for such podiatrists in a manner similar to physician profiles made available on the department of health's website in accordance with § 2995-a of the public health law. The department shall consult with the department of health as necessary on matters related to the operation of the department of health's physician profiles established pursuant to § 2995-a of the public health law in conducting its study.

(b) If the department determines that making podiatrist profiles available is appropriate and feasible, the department, after consultation with the department of health, shall outline in such study an appropriate and cost effective method of presenting relevant and appropriate podiatric profiling information to the general public. The department shall submit such study to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of the senate and the minority leader of the assembly on or before November first, two thousand sixteen.

(c) If the department makes podiatrist profiles available as set forth in paragraph (b) of this subdivision, the department of health shall include on its website containing the physician profiles established pursuant to § 2995-a of the public health law a link to the website on which such podiatrist profiles may be accessed and a statement describing the purpose of such link.