Joel Foster, DPM has been offering MLS® Laser Therapy in his clinic for over 5 years.
As a non-invasive and non-pharmacological approach to managing pain and inflammation, MLS Laser Therapy has helped his practice improve clinical outcomes for a wide range of patients, including those with achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, tendinopathies, arthritic pain, sprains, strains, post-operative pain and swelling, and many other painful conditions.
Joel D. Foster, DPM
Lee’s Summit, MO
After years of successful outcomes with the M6 MLS Therapy Laser, Dr. Foster had the opportunity to become one of the first physicians in the United States to utilize the newest in laser technologies: the M7 MLS Therapy Laser.
Soon after upgrading to the newest model, Dr. Foster and his team quickly noticed the impact that the latest innovation in MLS technology had on patient outcomes.
Dr. Joel Foster discusses how upgrading to the latest technology has further elevated patient outcomes at his private podiatry practice in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
What is the biggest difference between the M7 MLS® Laser Therapy and its predecessor, the M6?
The new MLS Laser has increased the performance of the previous laser that we had. It’s double the power which means that we can get more energy into the tissue. This laser is phenomenal for not only acute injuries, but also chronic injuries, and it is great also for post-operative pain, swelling, inflammation.
The unique thing about the MLS Laser is that it uses two wavelengths that are synchronized that work together to help not only improve the body’s metabolism, but it also reduces pain and at the same time it is inducing a healing response from your body. Now, with this higher level of energy that we can introduce into the tissues, we really can do what we’ve been doing before but even better.
Our previous MLS Laser was effective as well, but with the M7 we have noticed that the patients seem to be getting better faster.
They’re noticing results within one to two treatments rather than it taking three to four treatments. Also, most of the time with most of the typical tendinitis pathologies—plantar fasciitis, those type of things—we’re treating about eight treatments instead of twelve.
It has been more effective. Patients seem to be feeling a difference and noticing that they’re improving quicker, and to be able to have people notice a difference in one to two treatments has been really good.
How has offering MLS® Laser Therapy impacted your practice financially?
It has been a really good adjunct to be able to add additional services to the office, that I don’t have to be in the treatment room for. My staff can handle that. With the ease of use, it makes it a lot easier for them to handle all of that.
With a new device, something new and exciting, the patients are a lot more eager to get on board, as well.
It’s really been a very positive from my financial standpoint to bring that into our office and to be able to offer something that you know is making patients better; You know it’s helping them get better. It really makes it just a benefit, rather than a sales pitch, to a patient.
What product feature has been the most beneficial to your practice?
The ease of setup is really, really nice. One of the things that we always had to do with the previous M6 laser was once we figured out the area of treatment, then we’d have to do a calculation [to find the dosage], which was fine but the M7 does that for you.
Once the patient is set up and you find the area of treatment, there’s no more calculating [dosage] which is really nice because not only is it easier for you staff to set up, but it makes setup quicker. Anything that you can do quicker and more efficiently obviously affects the bottom line, and we want to get patients better and be as effective and efficient as we can, so we really love the new M7 laser because of that.
Learn more about the benefits that MLS Laser Therapy can offer to the private podiatry practice.
