Podiatric Physician and Surgeon Dr. Edwin Bautista Joins LECOM
Treating foot and ankle problems isn’t always about making a diagnosis.
For Dr. Edwin Bautista, DPM, who recently joined LECOM Englewood Family Practice in September, comprehensive foot and ankle care involves helping patients understand their conditions and giving them a voice in deciding what comes next.
As he begins accepting new patients, Bautista brings a patient-centered approach to the Englewood practice, ensuring patients understand their treatment and surgical options for common conditions, complex injuries or deformities.
His practice includes common conditions such as heel pain, bunions, hammertoes and ingrown toenails, as well as diabetic foot care, wounds, sports injuries, fractures, tendon and ligament injuries, and conditions requiring surgery.
His approach focuses on shared decision-making, patient education, conservative and surgical treatment options and when appropriate, minimally invasive techniques.
“A big philosophy of mine is to not only diagnose what’s going on, but to explain it to patients in a way they understand,” he said. “Reasonable options are available and we will make those decisions together.”
Part of this philosophy was influenced in part by his own experience as a patient.
“I felt sometimes I was being told what to do, rather than being presented with choices,” he said. As he puts patient education at the forefront of his services, he understands some patients may prefer conservative care over surgery.
Not every path leads to the operating room, he said. In some cases, conditions may need to be treated immediately. In others, evaluation can help establish a baseline to monitor the condition over time.
“If someone comes in with a foot deformity or another concern, the options might range from treating it now, to simply establishing a baseline and monitoring for changes,” he said. “There’s a whole spectrum of treatment options for patients.”
Bautista encourages patients to seek an evaluation when a foot or ankle problem is persistent, changing or concerning rather than waiting until it significantly affects their daily activities.
Some foot and ankle deformities are progressive, he explained. A condition noticed in your 20s may cause little discomfort at first but become increasingly more painful as you age, he said.
When a condition does progress to the point where surgery is appropriate, Bautista’s training includes minimally invasive surgical techniques. For certain conditions and patients, minimally invasive techniques can provide another surgical option using smaller incisions and specialized instruments, which may contribute to shorter recovery in some cases.
After years of medical and surgical training, Bautista is looking forward to welcoming new patients and putting his approach to foot and ankle care in practice.
“I’m really excited to be meeting the patients in the area,” Bautista said. “I spent years and years training for this point, so I’m really looking forward to developing these relationships and becoming part of the community.”
Originally from Chicago, Dr. Bautista completed his three-year Podiatric Medicine and Surgery residencythrough LECOM Medical Center in Erie, Pennsylvania. He earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.
Since moving to Englewood in June, he has had the opportunity to explore local restaurants, food trucks and outdoor recreation ahead of his start date. In his free time, he enjoys running, hiking and beach activities.
“Englewood is a really good fit for me,” he said.
LECOM Englewood Family Practice is located at 2828 S. McCall Road, Suite 21. Call 941-290-5111 to schedule your appointment.
