For referring physicians
How to refer a patient to Dr. Tine.
Referring a patient
Stephanie Tine, DPM, practices foot and ankle surgery in Fort Lauderdale, with particular focus on reconstructive procedures and sports-related injury. She completed her Doctorate in Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt University California School of Podiatric Medicine, then a three-year foot and ankle surgical residency at Adventist Health White Memorial in Los Angeles, where she served as chief resident. That residency, built around surgical management of foot and ankle pathology, underlies the scope of work she now performs: reconstructive surgery, minimally invasive bunion surgery, minimally invasive hammertoe surgery, shockwave therapy, and injections for foot, ankle, and joint pain. For physicians managing an active or athletic patient whose foot or ankle complaint may extend beyond conservative care, her sports-injury focus and reconstructive surgical training make her a relevant point of referral, particularly where structural correction rather than continued observation is the likely next step. Her full training and practice background are detailed on her physician biography; for guidance on timing and urgency across specific presentations, see the practice's referral guidance for specific conditions. Dr. Tine is affiliated with Flamingo Foot & Ankle and is accepting new patients.
At a glance
Which patients should I refer to Dr. Tine?
Most referrals fall into three categories: surgical bunion or hammertoe deformities, sports related foot and ankle injuries that have not settled with standard care, and reconstructive needs following a prior injury or a treatment that did not hold.
Dr. Tine completed a three-year foot and ankle surgical residency at Adventist Health White Memorial in Los Angeles, serving as Chief Resident, and her practice centers on reconstructive surgery and sports injury care alongside minimally invasive correction of bunion and hammertoe deformities. A patient with chronic instability after an ankle sprain that has not improved with bracing and physical therapy is a typical referral, as is a runner or athlete whose foot or ankle injury is limiting return to activity. Her training and focus areas are detailed on her bio; condition specific thresholds are listed in the referral guide for Dr. Tine.
What should I send with the referral?
Send what is already in the chart; nothing needs to be repeated before the visit.
Office notes documenting the conservative measures tried and for how long, any imaging already obtained, a current medication list, and insurance information let the first visit focus on the surgical or reconstructive question rather than re-collecting a history. If imaging has not been obtained, it does not need to be ordered first: Dr. Tine will determine what additional imaging the exam calls for.
How do I reach the office to refer a patient?
A direct call to Flamingo Foot & Ankle is the fastest way to start a referral.
The practice is accepting new patients and will schedule directly from a referring physician's call or fax; no separate intake form has to clear before the patient can be seen.
What happens at my patient's first visit with Dr. Tine?
Dr. Tine sees the patient herself.
The visit includes a focused foot and ankle history, a physical and gait exam oriented to sports injury or reconstructive concerns, and a review of any imaging the patient brings with them. Dr. Tine completed a three-year foot and ankle surgical residency at Adventist Health White Memorial in Los Angeles, serving as chief resident, and that training shows up in how the exam is structured: ligament and tendon integrity are checked directly rather than assumed from the referral note. Where the findings support it, she discusses non-surgical options such as shockwave therapy or an injection before any surgical path is raised.
Will I get a report back on what she found and planned?
Yes. A visit summary goes back to your practice covering the exam findings, the working diagnosis, and the plan Dr. Tine recommends, whether that plan is conservative care, a course of shockwave therapy or injections, or a discussion of reconstructive, minimally invasive bunion, or hammertoe surgery.
For the criteria that shape when a patient is sent back to your care, see the guide to when a referral comes back to you.
Does my patient return to me after the first visit, or stay under Dr. Tine's care?
That depends on what's found.
A patient whose issue resolves with a non-surgical plan, shockwave therapy or an injection, for instance, returns to your management once that plan is complete. A patient who needs reconstructive, bunion, or hammertoe surgery stays under Dr. Tine's care through the surgical and post-operative period, with updates sent back to you at the points that matter for your own records. Dr. Tine's training and focus areas are worth a look if it helps you set expectations with the patient before the visit.
Ready to get back on your feet?
Call the office or request an appointment. Accepting new patients.