First Step Foot Care

First Step Foot Care is a private, founder-owned podiatric practice in Chicagoland operating three clinics staffed by six physicians, delivering comprehensive foot and ankle care including on-site MRI, EPAT shockwave therapy, MLS laser treatment, and surgical services.

Company typePrivate
Founded1991
HeadquartersWauconda, United States
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What First Step Foot Care does

First Step Foot Care is a private, founder-owned podiatric medical practice founded in 1991 by Dr. James P. Flood and headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois, with additional clinics in Des Plaines and Wauconda serving the Chicagoland area. The practice operates as a multi-physician group employing six board-certified podiatrists (Dr. Flood, Dr. Rahimi, Dr. Cohn, Dr. Ferrari, Dr. Sheth, and Dr. Patel) and delivers comprehensive foot and ankle care spanning diagnostics, conservative treatment, and surgery. Its core technology platform combines on-site advanced diagnostics — extremity MRI, digital X-ray, and ultrasound — with non-invasive treatment modalities including FDA-cleared EPAT (Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology) shockwave therapy, Class IV MLS Laser Therapy, SWIFT wart treatment, and Platelet Rich Plasma injections, supplemented by minimally invasive surgical techniques such as percutaneous Achilles tendon repair (PARS) and arthroscopic fasciotomies. Surgical cases are performed in hospital-based settings under privileges at Northwest Community Hospital and Advocate Christ Medical Center.

The business runs a professional-services revenue model monetized through per-patient encounters: consultations, diagnostic imaging, in-office procedures, and surgical cases billed through standard fee-for-service channels (insurance and self-pay), with consultation-based pricing rather than published rates. Patient acquisition is sales-led via three physical clinic locations, a telemedicine channel for virtual visits, and a patient portal built on eClinicalWorks with healow scheduling, supplemented by event-driven engagement including webinars and medical conference participation by Dr. Cohn. Marketing channels span Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, X, Yelp, Google Reviews, and HealthGrades, with a content-heavy website featuring physician profiles, treatment education, and patient testimonials. The practice reports having treated more than 30,000 patients over its 28+ year history, positions itself as Chicagoland's Premier Foot and Ankle Centers, and serves segmented patient cohorts including athletes and active individuals, diabetic patients requiring limb-salvage care, pediatric cases, and general foot and ankle conditions such as bunions, hammertoes, arthritis, and heel pain.

First Step Foot Care firmographics

Firmographics

Name: First Step Foot Care
Legal name: First Step Foot Care
Website: https://firststepfootcare.com
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1991
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: First Step Foot Care is a private, founder-owned podiatric practice in Chicagoland operating three clinics staffed by six physicians, delivering comprehensive foot and ankle care including on-site MRI, EPAT shockwave therapy, MLS laser treatment, and surgical services.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

First Step Foot Care industry classification

Industry

Product category: Podiatry Services
NAICS: Offices of Podiatrists (621391)
SIC: Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)
akta.pro primary industry: Foot & Ankle (HLAKALAG)
akta.pro secondary industries: Podiatry & Foot/Ankle Surgery Centers (HLAFAIAL), General Orthopedics (HLAKALAA)

Keywords

Podiatric services
Foot care
Ankle treatments
Shockwave therapy
Laser therapy

Where First Step Foot Care is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Wauconda
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

First Step Foot Care business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

Patient Care Services: Revenue generated from medical consultations, diagnostic services (MRI, X-ray, ultrasound), treatments (laser therapy, EPAT, telemedicine), and surgical procedures for foot and ankle conditions. Services include both conservative and surgical treatment options for new and existing patients.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

First Step Foot Care product offering

Product offering

Core offering

First Step Foot Care is a multi-physician podiatric medical practice providing diagnostic imaging, non-invasive therapies, and foot and ankle surgical care for individual patients. The practice combines in-office advanced technology such as MRI, EPAT/Shockwave, MLS Laser Therapy, and Digital X-Ray with minimally invasive procedures and specialty podiatric services, delivered across three Chicagoland clinic locations and affiliated hospitals.

Product overview

First Step Foot Care is a podiatric medical practice offering a comprehensive suite of foot and ankle care services. The practice operates as a multi-service center providing diagnostic technologies (MRI, ultrasound, digital X-ray), advanced treatments (MLS Laser Therapy, EPAT/Shockwave Therapy, SWIFT Treatment), telemedicine appointments, and surgical procedures. The practice also provides a patient portal for online access. Services cover adult and pediatric care including sports injuries, trauma, arthritis treatment, diabetic foot care, reconstructive surgery, and general podiatric conditions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

MRI Examinations On-site magnetic resonance imaging used to diagnose foot, ankle, and lower-extremity conditions for patients referred within the practice.
EPAT / Shockwave Therapy Non-invasive acoustic wave treatment offered in-office for chronic foot and ankle conditions such as plantar fasciitis and tendon pain.
MLS Laser Therapy Laser-based therapeutic service delivered in-office to reduce pain and inflammation associated with podiatric conditions.
SWIFT Treatment In-office microwave-based treatment for verruca (wart) removal and related skin conditions of the foot.
Telemedicine Appointments Remote consultations offered to patients as an alternative to in-office visits for assessment and follow-up care.
On-Site Digital X-Ray In-office digital radiography for the evaluation of foot and ankle bone and joint conditions.
Ultrasound Diagnostics In-office musculoskeletal ultrasound used to evaluate soft tissue and vascular conditions of the foot and ankle.
PRP Injections Platelet-rich plasma injection therapy provided in-office for treatment of certain podiatric soft-tissue and joint conditions.
Minimally Invasive Procedures Outpatient minimally invasive podiatric surgical procedures performed by practice physicians.
Specialty Podiatric Services Specialized podiatric care addressing complex foot and ankle conditions delivered by the practice's physician team.

Quantifiable outcome

EPAT treatment effectiveness rate of over 85% for non-surgical pain relief
+3 more outcomes

Companies that use First Step Foot Care

Customer profile

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

First Step Foot Care technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature6 records

First Step Foot Care partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

First Step Foot Care competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

Rothman Orthopaedic Institute: Large regional orthopedic specialty group with foot and ankle service lines among broader musculoskeletal offerings; competes with First Step for sports injury and surgical referrals in overlapping geographies.
Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush: Renowned orthopedic specialty practice affiliated with Rush University Medical Center in Chicago; provides foot and ankle surgical services and competes for elite athlete and complex case referrals in First Step's market.
Illinois Bone & Joint Institute: Large multi-site orthopedic group based in Illinois with foot and ankle specialty coverage; competes directly with First Step in the Chicagoland region for sports medicine and surgical referrals.
HSS - Hospital for Special Surgery: Nationally recognized orthopedic specialty hospital with a foot and ankle service; represents the upper-tier incumbent competing for complex surgical referrals that First Step's hospital-affiliated physicians also pursue.
The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics: Multi-site orthopedic group with foot and ankle specialists as part of a comprehensive musculoskeletal practice; competes for the same surgical and sports medicine referrals as a podiatry group.

Direct peers

Foot & Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic (FASMA): A large podiatric medical group operating numerous offices across the Mid-Atlantic offering conservative and surgical foot and ankle care; structurally comparable as a physician-led multi-site podiatry platform.
Ankle & Foot Centers of America: Multi-location podiatry network in the Southeast offering diagnostics, conservative treatment, and foot/ankle surgery; serves as a comparable scaling model for a podiatric group practice.
Podiatry Associates: Multi-physician podiatric practice group offering foot and ankle surgical and non-surgical care; comparable to First Step in scope of services and physician-led group structure.
Weil Foot & Ankle Institute: A large multi-location podiatry group headquartered in the Chicagoland area offering foot and ankle surgical and non-surgical care; the most direct geographic and service-line competitor to First Step Foot Care.
US Foot & Ankle Specialists: Multi-state podiatry platform with affiliated practices delivering comprehensive foot and ankle services including surgery, diabetic care, and orthotics; comparable in scope to First Step's multi-location operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

First Step Foot Care compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance2 records

First Step Foot Care financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

First Step Foot Care leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

First Step Foot Care funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

First Step Foot Care M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about First Step Foot Care

What does First Step Foot Care do?

Is First Step Foot Care a public or private company?

First Step Foot Care is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.

When was First Step Foot Care founded?

First Step Foot Care was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is First Step Foot Care based?

First Step Foot Care is headquartered in Wauconda, United States, in the North America region.

How does First Step Foot Care make money?

One revenue line is on record: patient Care Services.

Who are First Step Foot Care's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, Illinois Bone & Joint Institute, HSS - Hospital for Special Surgery and The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics. Direct peers are Foot & Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic (FASMA), Ankle & Foot Centers of America, Podiatry Associates, Weil Foot & Ankle Institute and US Foot & Ankle Specialists.

Does First Step Foot Care have an API?

No public API is recorded for First Step Foot Care.

What industry is First Step Foot Care in?

First Step Foot Care's product category is Podiatry Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAKALAG, Foot & Ankle, with a secondary code of HLAFAIAL, Podiatry & Foot/Ankle Surgery Centers. Its NAICS code is 621391 and its SIC code is 8011.