Arche Healthcare Urges Primary Care Nationwide to Observe LEAP Day November 14 and Prevent Diabetes-Related Amputations

A standardized, three-minute diabetic foot assessment connects primary care with specialized podiatric care and aligns with value-based quality standards.

NEW CANAAN, Conn., Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In observance of Diabetes Awareness Month, Arche Healthcare calls on primary care providers, health systems, and health plans nationwide to observe LEAP Day (Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention) on November 14. The initiative addresses a critical gap in preventive care by integrating a standardized, three-minute diabetic foot assessment into routine primary care visits to identify high-risk complications early and prompt timely referrals to doctors of podiatric medicine (DPMs).

Despite advances in diabetes management, non-healing foot ulcers remain the leading cause of non-traumatic lower-extremity amputations. More than 80% of these amputations begin with a preventable ulcer. Peer-reviewed research, including landmark publications in Diabetes Care, indicates that clinical interventions often occur too late in disease progression. Routine screening in primary care shifts the focus to earlier identification and intervention.

"Diabetes-related amputations represent a profound clinical failure, but it is a solvable crisis if we act upstream," said Des Bell, DPM, CWS, President Emeritus and Founder of The Save a Leg, Save a Life Foundation. "Primary care clinicians are on the front lines. Integrating a standardized, three-minute foot check into annual and chronic-care visits allows PCPs to identify early risk factors, like neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease, and connect patients with podiatric specialists before tissue loss occurs."

Connecting Primary Care and Quality Measurement: HEDIS Pedis™

Arche Healthcare spearheaded LEAP 2030 and the HEDIS Pedis™ movement to establish a formal NCQA HEDIS^® quality measure for diabetic foot assessments. The effort draws on the HEDIS^® retinal exam measure, which transformed diabetic eye care and prevented vision loss for millions. A standardized foot assessment measure would incentivize health systems to close preventive care gaps, lower the total cost of care, and preserve patient mobility.

Clinical Action Plan for LEAP Day (and Year-Round):

• Assess: Incorporate a standardized, three-minute diabetic foot examination into routine adult chronic-care and annual wellness visits.
• Stratify Risk: Identify early indicators of loss of protective sensation (LOPS), peripheral arterial disease (PAD), structural deformities, or prior ulceration.
• Refer: Establish immediate referral pathways to DPMs for high-risk patients requiring specialized intervention.

Free clinical workflows, assessment tools, and the downloadable Diabetic Foot Assessment Score Sheet are available at LEAP2030.org.

About Arche Healthcare Arche Healthcare empowers patients, physicians, and payers to prevent diabetes-related wounds and amputations through the Arche Comprehensive Diabetic Foot Exam (CDFE) and diagnostic tools and technologies that support patient engagement and improve outcomes. Learn more at LEAP2030.org.

Media Contact: Tanya L Travers, Arche Healthcare +1 (707) 653-6716 • [email protected] 

HEDIS^® is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). HEDIS Pedis™ is used by Arche Healthcare in connection with the LEAP 2030 initiative.

SOURCE Arche Healthcare