Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM
Board-certified podiatric surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle, Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI
Last reviewed: May 2026
Balance Foot & Ankle offers same-day appointments for urgent foot and ankle conditions across Southeast Michigan — but the most important factor in outcomes isn’t getting seen quickly. Our podiatrists explain what to do in the first 24-48 hours before your appointment that most patients skip entirely. Call (810) 206-1402 — expert podiatric care across Michigan.
Medically Reviewed | Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula — including Escanaba, Marquette, Iron Mountain, and communities throughout Delta, Marquette, Dickinson, and Gogebic counties — faces the greatest healthcare specialist access challenge in the state. Podiatric care is often unavailable locally or involves months-long waits. At Balance Foot & Ankle, Dr. Tom Biernacki has developed a telehealth-first model for UP patients that delivers real specialist value remotely while identifying when in-person or surgical care is truly necessary.
The most important clinical decision with Podiatrist Escanaba Upper Peninsula Michigan Balance Foot Ankle isn’t which treatment to start with — it’s identifying the correct subtype. That changes everything. Call (810) 206-1402.
Telehealth-First Model for Upper Peninsula Patients
The telehealth model for UP patients works as follows: Initial telehealth consultation — Dr. Biernacki reviews your history, symptoms, any available imaging, and photographs/video of the affected foot. Many conditions can be assessed and treatment initiated remotely: plantar fasciitis, early nail conditions, wound monitoring, post-operative follow-up, medication management, and conservative orthotic/footwear guidance. In-person evaluation is scheduled when clinical examination, imaging, in-office procedures, or surgical planning is required. When UP patients come downstate, visits are maximized — comprehensive examination, imaging, procedures, and surgical consultation are all addressed in a single visit to minimize future travel.
The UP Foot Health Challenge
The Upper Peninsula’s unique environment and demographics create a distinct foot health profile. Frostbite and cold injury are far more prevalent than in the Lower Peninsula — snowmobilers, hunters, loggers, and outdoor workers in sustained extreme cold regularly present with cold-related foot injuries. Diabetic foot complications are especially consequential in the UP’s rural communities where wound care resources and vascular surgery are geographically limited. Industrial foot injuries from mining, logging, and manufacturing are common. Active outdoor sports injuries — hunting, skiing at Blackjack, Big Powderhorn, Indianhead, and Marquette Mountain — create consistent ankle and foot sports medicine needs.
Diabetic Foot Care for UP Residents
Diabetic foot disease in the Upper Peninsula carries higher stakes than in metro areas — limited local wound care, long distances to vascular surgery, and reduced healthcare access create conditions where minor problems rapidly become major ones. Dr. Biernacki’s telehealth diabetic foot model provides: annual comprehensive exam via telehealth with family member assistance for examination documentation; early wound identification via photo monitoring; Medicare Therapeutic Shoe Program coordination with local certified pedorthists; urgent in-person assessment for active ulcers that cannot be safely managed remotely; and vascular surgery telehealth coordination for perfusion assessment.
Dr. Tom's Product Recommendations
Baffin Impact Snow Boot — Extreme Cold Insulated
⭐ Highly Rated
Extreme cold rated insulated boots for Upper Peninsula’s severe winter climate. Essential frostbite prevention for UP snowmobilers, loggers, hunters, and outdoor workers exposed to sustained sub-zero temperatures.
Dr. Tom says: “”Escanaba snowmobiler — Baffin boots keep my feet warm through full-day UP trail rides. My podiatrist required me to upgrade after treating my frostbite.””
UP residents exposed to extreme cold — snowmobilers, hunters, outdoor workers at frostbite risk
Patients with significant foot deformity requiring custom therapeutic footwear
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Diabetic Socks Non-Binding for Neuropathy — 6-Pack
⭐ Highly Rated
Daily protective diabetic socks for UP’s rural diabetic population. Seamless, non-binding protection prevents friction injury — critical for neuropathic patients with limited access to local wound care.
Dr. Tom says: “”Delta County diabetic — these socks protect my feet between telehealth appointments with my podiatrist in Howell. Essential daily protection.””
Upper Peninsula diabetic patients managing foot health between telehealth and in-person podiatric visits
Active wounds requiring medical wound care rather than socks
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
✅ Pros / Benefits
- Telehealth-first model extends specialist podiatric care to Michigan’s most geographically isolated region
- In-person visits maximized to address all needs in a single trip when downstate travel is required
- Diabetic foot telehealth monitoring provides early intervention capability for UP’s high-risk population
❌ Cons / Risks
- In-person evaluation and surgical care require a significant drive (4–6+ hours) or flight to Howell/Brighton
- Some conditions cannot be adequately assessed via telehealth — physical examination is irreplaceable
- Emergency and urgent care requires local UP resources — telehealth is not emergency medicine
Dr. Tom Biernacki’s Recommendation
The Upper Peninsula is a special place, and UP patients who connect with us remotely are some of the most resourceful and independent people I work with — they’ve been handling their healthcare needs with less than optimal access for their entire lives. My goal is to use telehealth to give them the specialist access they deserve without requiring a 5-hour drive for every concern. When they do make the trip downstate, we make it count — everything gets evaluated, everything gets planned, and we set up the telehealth infrastructure so the drive is rare, not routine.
— Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start my care as a new patient via telehealth from the UP?
Yes — we actively encourage new UP patients to begin with a telehealth consultation. This allows us to review your history, symptoms, any available imaging, and photos of your foot condition. Many conditions can be assessed and treatment initiated remotely. We will be transparent about when in-person evaluation is truly necessary.
What conditions can be managed via telehealth from the Upper Peninsula?
Many conditions are appropriate for telehealth management: plantar fasciitis with imaging review, post-operative follow-up with photo wound assessment, diabetic foot monitoring, medication management, orthotic/footwear guidance, and initial evaluation for most non-emergency conditions. Conditions requiring in-person care: new fracture evaluation, in-office procedures (nail surgery, debridement), surgical consultation, and imaging that requires physical examination.
Is the drive from Escanaba to Howell worth it?
For many UP patients, yes — particularly for surgical consultations, conditions requiring definitive diagnosis, and complex management that local resources cannot address. We work to make every in-person visit comprehensive enough to justify the distance. Many UP patients tell us that connecting with a podiatrist who takes their conditions seriously — even via telehealth — is significant.
Can I get diabetic shoes shipped to the Upper Peninsula?
Yes — the Medicare Therapeutic Shoe Program can coordinate shoe fitting and delivery to UP addresses in many cases. After the telehealth prescribing assessment and any required in-person examination, we work with certified pedorthists to fit and ship diabetic shoes. Call to discuss your eligibility and logistics.
Michigan Foot Pain? See Dr. Biernacki In Person
4.9★ rated | 1,123 Reviews | 3,000+ Surgeries
Same-week appointments · Howell & Bloomfield Hills
📞 (810) 206-1402 Book Online →Frequently Asked Questions
When should I see a podiatrist?
If symptoms persist past 2 weeks, affect your normal activity, or are accompanied by red-flag symptoms (warmth, redness, swelling, inability to bear weight).
What does treatment cost?
Most diagnostic visits and conservative treatments are covered by Medicare and major insurers. Out-of-pocket costs vary by your specific plan.
How quickly can I get an appointment?
Most non-urgent cases see us within 5 business days. Urgent cases (sudden pain, possible fracture) typically same or next business day.
Visit Balance Foot & Ankle — Same-Day Appointments Available
Our podiatry team serves patients throughout Michigan including Howell, Brighton, and Bloomfield Hills. If you’re dealing with heel pain, ingrown toenails, or a foot injury, we have same-day appointment availability.
Find a Board-Certified Podiatrist (American Podiatric Medical Association)
Ready to Get Relief?
Same-day appointments available in Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI
4.9★ | 1,123 Reviews | 3,000+ Surgeries
Or call: (810) 206-1402
Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a board-certified foot & ankle surgeon (ABFAS & ABPM) at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has made him one of the most-followed foot & ankle educators on YouTube.