Quick answer: Need a podiatrist’s opinion on this? Call Balance Foot & Ankle at (810) 206-1402 for same-week appointments in Howell or Bloomfield Township, Michigan. Most insurance accepted, including Medicare.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM · Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon · Last reviewed: April 2026 · Editorial Policy
Quick Answer
To refer a patient, call (810) 206-1402 and tell our team it is a provider referral. We contact your patient within one business day, prioritize urgent diabetic wound and infection cases, and send a consultation note back to your office after the visit. Same-week appointments in Howell + Bloomfield Township: (810) 206-1402.
✅ Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist · Last updated April 6, 2026
Refer a Patient to Balance Foot & Ankle — Michigan Physician Referral Portal
Thank you for considering Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists for your podiatric referrals. We are committed to coordinated care, prompt communication, and exceptional outcomes for your shared patients.
📞 Refer Today: (810) 206-1402
Howell: 4330 E Grand River Ave | Bloomfield Township: 43494 Woodward Ave #208
Same-day availability for urgent referrals
Why Refer to Balance Foot & Ankle?
- Board-certified podiatric surgeons: Dr. Tom Biernacki DPM, Dr. Carl Jay DPM, Dr. Daria Gutkin DPM — not general “foot care providers”
- Advanced technology not available elsewhere in Livingston County: MLS dual-wavelength laser, EPAT shockwave therapy, EMTT magnetotransduction, 3D-scanned custom orthotics, in-office digital X-ray and musculoskeletal ultrasound
- Two locations: Howell (Livingston County) and Bloomfield Township (Oakland County)
- Same-day and next-day availability for urgent referrals
- Home visits for homebound and nursing home patients
- Coordinated care model: We send progress notes to your office after every visit
- Established partnerships: Vassallo Medical Group (Howell), Grunberger Diabetes Institute (Bloomfield Township)
- 5,000+ patients/year, 1,200+ five-star reviews
Our Howell office coordinates with Vassallo Medical Group (same road — Grand River Ave) for patients with diabetes, vascular disease, and systemic conditions. Coordinated care for Livingston County patients.
📞 (810) 206-1402 | Howell, MI
What Happens After You Refer
- We contact the patient within 1 business day of receiving the referral
- We schedule based on urgency — same-day available for urgent cases
- After the visit, we send a consultation note directly to your office
- We coordinate ongoing care and keep you informed of treatment plan changes
- We never “take over” the patient relationship — we work alongside you
Referral Criteria Quick Reference
How to Refer
Call our office directly at (810) 206-1402 and ask for our referral coordinator. We make the process as smooth as possible for your office.
For urgent cases: call directly and we will work your patient in same-day.
✅ MLS Dual-Wavelength Laser — FDA-cleared
✅ EPAT Shockwave Therapy — 80%+ success rate
✅ Magnetotransduction (EMTT) — Deep electromagnetic healing
✅ 3D-Scanned Custom Orthotics
✅ Toenail Fungus Laser
✅ In-Office X-Ray & Ultrasound
✅ Diabetic Shoe Program — Medicare-covered
📞 (810) 206-1402 | Howell & Bloomfield Township
Clinical Foot Care Beyond Products: Michigan’s Balance Foot & Ankle
Michigan patients using foot care products — wound care supplies, topical treatments, foot supplements, compression garments, orthotics, or stretching devices — as part of their foot health routine benefit from occasional clinical evaluation to ensure the products they are using are appropriate for their specific condition and that no developing pathology requires professional intervention. At Balance Foot & Ankle, our clinical evaluation confirms the diagnosis, assesses whether current product-based management is adequate, and identifies cases where professional treatment would produce better outcomes than continued self-management.
For Michigan patients managing chronic conditions — diabetic foot care, neuropathy management, post-surgical recovery, or persistent tendinopathy — regular podiatric check-ins at appropriate intervals ensure that small changes are caught before they become significant complications. The right interval varies by condition and risk level: high-risk diabetic patients benefit from quarterly visits; stable patients using products for minor chronic conditions may need only annual check-ins. At Balance Foot & Ankle, we help patients identify the appropriate visit frequency for their specific situation. Livingston and Oakland County patients can call (810) 206-1402 to schedule at our Howell or Bloomfield Township office.
Related Treatment Guides
- Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain Treatment
- Custom 3D Orthotics
- Sports Foot & Ankle Injury Treatment
- Bunion Treatment
Michigan patients experiencing foot or ankle problems can schedule an appointment at Balance Foot & Ankle — with locations in Howell (4330 E Grand River) and Bloomfield Township (43494 Woodward Ave #208). Call (810) 206-1402 for same-week availability.
Insurance Accepted
BCBS · Medicare · Aetna · Cigna · United Healthcare · HAP · Priority Health · Humana · View All →
Howell Office
4330 E Grand River Ave
Howell, MI 48843
Get Directions →
Bloomfield Township Office
43494 Woodward Ave, #208
Bloomfield Township, MI 48302
Get Directions →
Your Board-Certified Podiatrists
Ready to Get Back on Your Feet?
Same-week appointments available at both locations.
Book Your AppointmentReady to Get Back on Your Feet?
Same-day appointments in Howell + Bloomfield Township. Most insurance accepted. Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM & team.
Book Today — Same-Day Appointments Available
Call Now: (810) 206-1402
About Your Care Team at Balance Foot & Ankle
Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM · Board-Certified Foot & Ankle Surgeon. Specializes in conservative-first care, minimally invasive bunion surgery, and complex reconstruction.
Dr. Carl Jay, DPM · Accepting new patients. Specializes in sports medicine, athletic injuries, and routine podiatric care.
Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM, AACFAS · Accepting new patients. Specializes in surgical reconstruction and pediatric podiatry.
Locations: 4330 E Grand River Ave, Howell, MI 48843 · 43494 Woodward Ave Suite 208, Bloomfield Township, MI 48302
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · (810) 206-1402
Get Expert Help at Balance Foot & Ankle
If this condition is affecting your daily activities or hasn’t improved with home treatment, schedule an evaluation with Dr. Tom Biernacki. We offer same-day appointments at our Howell and Bloomfield Township locations and accept most insurance including Medicare. Most patients are walking comfortably within 4-6 weeks of starting our protocol — conservative care first, surgery only when needed.
Call (810) 206-1402 or request an appointment online. Our team responds within 1 business hour during clinic days.
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Visit Balance Foot & Ankle — Same-Day Appointments Available
Our podiatry team serves patients throughout Michigan including Howell, Brighton, and Bloomfield Township. If you’re dealing with heel pain, ingrown toenails, or a foot injury, we have same-day appointment availability.
Same-day appointments available. (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.
More questions patients ask
When should a doctor refer a patient to a podiatrist?
Primary care physicians and other doctors should refer patients to a podiatrist for: diabetic foot complications (ulcers, infections, neuropathy — the threshold for referral should be low, as outcomes are dramatically better with specialist involvement), any foot wound that is not healing in 2 weeks, suspected foot or ankle fracture, Achilles tendon injury, chronic plantar fasciitis not responding to basic care, bunions, hammertoes, or other foot deformities causing pain or functional limitation, ingrown toenails (especially infected ones), toenail fungus requiring prescription therapy, pediatric flat feet or gait abnormalities, heel pain, ankle instability, suspected tarsal tunnel syndrome, and adult-acquired flatfoot. A good rule: any foot or ankle problem that has persisted more than 4–6 weeks without improvement warrants podiatric referral. At Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell (4330 E Grand River) and Bloomfield Township (43494 Woodward Ave #208) — call (810) 206-1402.
How do I refer a patient to Balance Foot & Ankle?
To refer a patient to Balance Foot & Ankle: call our referral line at (810) 206-1402 (Howell: 4330 E Grand River Ave; Bloomfield Township: 43494 Woodward Ave #208), fax a referral with the patient's demographics, insurance information, and clinical reason for referral, or have your patient call directly to schedule — we accept self-referrals. Urgent referrals (diabetic foot wounds, infections, suspected fractures) are prioritized for same-day or next-day appointments. Our physicians include Dr. Tom Biernacki DPM, Dr. Carl Jay DPM, and Dr. Daria Gutkin DPM. We accept most major insurance plans including Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, and United Healthcare. For ongoing referral relationships, contact our office to be added to our referring provider network.
What information should be included in a podiatry referral?
An effective podiatric referral includes: patient demographics (name, date of birth, contact information), insurance information and member ID, the specific clinical question or concern (e.g., 'diabetic foot ulcer right hallux, 2 weeks duration, non-healing'), relevant medical history (especially diabetes with A1c and duration, peripheral vascular disease, anticoagulation, allergies), current medications, prior treatments tried and their results, urgency level (routine, semi-urgent within 1 week, urgent same-day), and contact information for the referring provider. Diagnostic results to include: recent foot X-rays, ABI results, HbA1c, wound culture results. For complex cases, a brief phone-to-phone discussion between physicians improves care coordination. Balance Foot & Ankle welcomes coordinated referrals — call (810) 206-1402.
What should patients do to prepare for their first podiatry appointment after a referral?
Preparing for the first podiatry appointment: bring a complete list of all medications (including over-the-counter supplements), bring or have records forwarded of any relevant prior imaging (X-rays, MRI, ultrasound) and lab results, wear or bring the shoes you most commonly wear and the shoes you use for activities causing your pain, make a list of all your foot concerns (sometimes patients forget to mention important symptoms in the moment), bring your insurance cards and photo ID, arrive 10–15 minutes early to complete new patient paperwork, and if you have an active wound — do not change the dressing just before the appointment (let the podiatrist see the wound in its current state). At Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell and Bloomfield Township, MI, we make the first visit thorough and efficient — call (810) 206-1402.
Which foot conditions are most urgent for podiatric referral?
Conditions requiring urgent podiatric referral (same day or within 24–48 hours): diabetic foot ulcers (especially if showing signs of infection), any foot wound with spreading redness or pus in a diabetic or immunocompromised patient, suspected Lisfranc injury (often misdiagnosed as a sprain), complete Achilles tendon rupture, acute Charcot foot (sudden red, warm, swollen foot in a diabetic/neuropathic patient — requires immediate immobilization), acute septic toe or paronychia with cellulitis, suspected acute compartment syndrome of the foot, nail bed injuries with tendon involvement, and infected ingrown toenails in diabetic patients. Non-urgent but important within 1–2 weeks: any fracture with adequate alignment, moderate ankle sprains, post-thrombotic wound concerns, and progressive foot deformity. Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell (4330 E Grand River) and Bloomfield Township (43494 Woodward Ave #208) prioritizes urgent referrals — call (810) 206-1402.
Still have a question about coverage or cost? Book online and we will check your benefits before your visit: Book in Howell · Book in Bloomfield Township. Prefer to talk it through first? Call (810) 206-1402.