Here are five ways orthopedic physicians can boost the sports medicine patient volume at their practices.
1. Specialize in sports medicine. Craig Levitz, MD, of Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group and director of sports medicine and chairman of the department of orthopedics and orthopedic surgery at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, N.Y., suggests bringing physicians on board that completed accredited fellowships in sports medicine. He says doing so will give your sports medicine practice with more credibility because there is a vast difference between physicians who call themselves sports medicine physicians and those who actually go through accredited fellowships.
"Accredited fellowships have core training that big associations have created that include use of cutting edge techniques," he says. "Starting in 2012, all sports medicine physicians have to have complete an accredited fellowship, and that will help the public determine whether they are truly seeing a sports medicine physician who is trained appropriately and doesn't just have the title of 'sports medicine physician' as a marketing tool."
2. Partner with local high schools. Orthopedic physicians can partner with local high schools to provide team physician services. If possible, the practice should provide an athletic trainer to every sports practice and the physician should stand at the sidelines during home games. Being on the sidelines increases the physician's visibility to the players and the fans, and if an injury occurs the physician will be able to provide immediate care and further treatment advice. The physician can also offer free preseason physicals, which are necessary for the athletes to play. In some areas, physicians are also giving presentations on injury prevention during preseason meetings for the athletes, parents and coaches. These meetings are also an opportunity to become familiar with the athletes so that when an injury occurs, athletes will remember you and seek out your services.
3. Offer Saturday morning clinics year-round. While many practices already have sports Saturday sports injury clinics open during the fall sports and football seasons, Angie Van Utrecht, director of operations at Orthopedic Specialists in Davenport, Iowa, says successful sports medicine practices should offer these clinics to athletes all year. The Saturday morning clinics can be helpful to athletes beyond football players, such as basketball players and weekend warriors. If these individuals know the clinic is available, they are likely to utilize its services when an injury occurs. As Ms. Van Utrecht points out, "soccer, basketball and volleyball (which are fall sports) have the highest rate of ACL tears." Cheerleaders and track athletes are also likely to incur injuries during the winter and spring seasons.
4. Market sports medicine services to baby boomers. Older adults are also seeking sports medicine services to remain active longer, despite orthopedic injuries or conditions. Place articles or advertisements in magazines with an older audience, such as AARP or Vim and Vigor, says Gary S. Levengood, MD, founder of Sports Medicine South in Atlanta. He has published patient profiles about the work he's done with older patients in such publications, which attracts the publication's readership to his office. "People read the profiles about patients coming in not being able to do things and then we get them back to their lives," says Dr. Levengood. "The readers say, 'Hey, that's me. I'm not ready to pack it in yet, I'm ready to keep going.'"
You can also collaborate with a local sports club or gym to give a presentation on the best practices for nursing injuries, staying healthy and keeping a nutritious lifestyle. "Typically, the population that attends these sorts of events are the middle and older age group," says James N. Gladstone, MD, co-chief of sports medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. "I often find that people come in and their knees hurt because they are overweight. They want to lose the weight but can't run. We can be helpful in offering alternatives based on the patient's specific ability." Some of these alternatives include dieting, walking, swimming and bicycling. Dr. Gladstone also emphasizes stretching among his older patients, especially if they only occasionally engage in sporting activities. While the information isn't necessarily sports-related, the surgeon is still building a reputation among a potential patient-base.
5. Acquire latest technology. For anyone in the orthopedic industry, keeping up on the latest treatments available for patient healing and satisfaction is necessary, especially in diagnostic and interventional radiology and other ancillary resources, says Les Jebson, executive director at The University of Florida Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute in Gainesville, Fla. The UF Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute has one of the largest motion analysis laboratories in the country, and are researching and examining concussion management technology software systems and laser therapy systems as other resources in their patient care arsenal. When patients know you have the latest technology, they are likely to return to you and recommend their friends.
Related Articles on Sports Medicine:
5 Tips for Building a Successful Sports Medicine Practice
5 Marketing Tips for Sports Medicine Practices
5 Ways for Orthopedic Practices to Use Athletic Trainers as Physician Extenders
1. Specialize in sports medicine. Craig Levitz, MD, of Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group and director of sports medicine and chairman of the department of orthopedics and orthopedic surgery at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, N.Y., suggests bringing physicians on board that completed accredited fellowships in sports medicine. He says doing so will give your sports medicine practice with more credibility because there is a vast difference between physicians who call themselves sports medicine physicians and those who actually go through accredited fellowships.
"Accredited fellowships have core training that big associations have created that include use of cutting edge techniques," he says. "Starting in 2012, all sports medicine physicians have to have complete an accredited fellowship, and that will help the public determine whether they are truly seeing a sports medicine physician who is trained appropriately and doesn't just have the title of 'sports medicine physician' as a marketing tool."
2. Partner with local high schools. Orthopedic physicians can partner with local high schools to provide team physician services. If possible, the practice should provide an athletic trainer to every sports practice and the physician should stand at the sidelines during home games. Being on the sidelines increases the physician's visibility to the players and the fans, and if an injury occurs the physician will be able to provide immediate care and further treatment advice. The physician can also offer free preseason physicals, which are necessary for the athletes to play. In some areas, physicians are also giving presentations on injury prevention during preseason meetings for the athletes, parents and coaches. These meetings are also an opportunity to become familiar with the athletes so that when an injury occurs, athletes will remember you and seek out your services.
3. Offer Saturday morning clinics year-round. While many practices already have sports Saturday sports injury clinics open during the fall sports and football seasons, Angie Van Utrecht, director of operations at Orthopedic Specialists in Davenport, Iowa, says successful sports medicine practices should offer these clinics to athletes all year. The Saturday morning clinics can be helpful to athletes beyond football players, such as basketball players and weekend warriors. If these individuals know the clinic is available, they are likely to utilize its services when an injury occurs. As Ms. Van Utrecht points out, "soccer, basketball and volleyball (which are fall sports) have the highest rate of ACL tears." Cheerleaders and track athletes are also likely to incur injuries during the winter and spring seasons.
4. Market sports medicine services to baby boomers. Older adults are also seeking sports medicine services to remain active longer, despite orthopedic injuries or conditions. Place articles or advertisements in magazines with an older audience, such as AARP or Vim and Vigor, says Gary S. Levengood, MD, founder of Sports Medicine South in Atlanta. He has published patient profiles about the work he's done with older patients in such publications, which attracts the publication's readership to his office. "People read the profiles about patients coming in not being able to do things and then we get them back to their lives," says Dr. Levengood. "The readers say, 'Hey, that's me. I'm not ready to pack it in yet, I'm ready to keep going.'"
You can also collaborate with a local sports club or gym to give a presentation on the best practices for nursing injuries, staying healthy and keeping a nutritious lifestyle. "Typically, the population that attends these sorts of events are the middle and older age group," says James N. Gladstone, MD, co-chief of sports medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. "I often find that people come in and their knees hurt because they are overweight. They want to lose the weight but can't run. We can be helpful in offering alternatives based on the patient's specific ability." Some of these alternatives include dieting, walking, swimming and bicycling. Dr. Gladstone also emphasizes stretching among his older patients, especially if they only occasionally engage in sporting activities. While the information isn't necessarily sports-related, the surgeon is still building a reputation among a potential patient-base.
5. Acquire latest technology. For anyone in the orthopedic industry, keeping up on the latest treatments available for patient healing and satisfaction is necessary, especially in diagnostic and interventional radiology and other ancillary resources, says Les Jebson, executive director at The University of Florida Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute in Gainesville, Fla. The UF Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute has one of the largest motion analysis laboratories in the country, and are researching and examining concussion management technology software systems and laser therapy systems as other resources in their patient care arsenal. When patients know you have the latest technology, they are likely to return to you and recommend their friends.
Related Articles on Sports Medicine:
5 Tips for Building a Successful Sports Medicine Practice
5 Marketing Tips for Sports Medicine Practices
5 Ways for Orthopedic Practices to Use Athletic Trainers as Physician Extenders