Even if primary care physician referral patterns don’t change, sports medicine can disrupt competitor referral chains in two ways:
1. By offering specialized, fast services. Patients surveyed by Advisory Board said the most important factors in physician selection are being seen within a week of scheduling a consultation and having a physician known for a specific area of expertise.
2. By creating a clear pathway to orthopedic surgery. Staying within the health system for ongoing care or surgery should be the easiest option for patients. For instance, the Chicago-area NorthShore Orthopaedic & Spine Institute increased surgical volumes by 42 percent over five years, in part because it incorporated a musculoskeletal continuity clinic into its orthopedic immediate-access model.
More articles on sports medicine:
Orthofix reports $40.5M loss & more: 7 device company notes
Price transparency, value-based care & bundles: Altair Health CEO aims to drive change in spine
Stryker receives FDA clearance for 3D-printed expandable interbody device — 4 things to know
