Podiaty Referrals?????

[hijinxx7]

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I read on one of the forums the following:

"You don't seem to understand that podiatry is not about location only, but it’s kinda/sorta about your ability to "court and spark" the physicians in your "market." They have to be able to understand your capabilities, certs and desire to handle their patient referrals.

Without them (Doctor M.D./D.O.) sending business your way, life could be tough no matter where you lived, what your GPA was or how many years your residency was.

That is why it is important for each podiatrist to establish a decent reputation in their local medical community and a working rapport with other health care providers. "


It seems like the best way to succeed *financially* as a podiatrist from what I have read is to share a private practice so that overhead costs can be split.


My question is how does a freshly graduated podiatrist with good residency experience gain lots of referrals in their medical community?


I am from Toronto, and many of the podiatrists/chiropodists seem to have worked in a hospital setting right out of grad and subsequently join a private practice, or open up one of their own afterwards. Is this because fresh grads just don't have the referral base to be successful in a private clinic setting?

Then there is the question of actually purchasing a private practice from a retiring or moving podiatrist that already has a broad patient base.


Just wondering the best ways to get referrals...

 

[Podman]

I read on one of the forums the following:

"You don't seem to understand that podiatry is not about location only, but it’s kinda/sorta about your ability to "court and spark" the physicians in your "market." They have to be able to understand your capabilities, certs and desire to handle their patient referrals.

Without them (Doctor M.D./D.O.) sending business your way, life could be tough no matter where you lived, what your GPA was or how many years your residency was.

That is why it is important for each podiatrist to establish a decent reputation in their local medical community and a working rapport with other health care providers. "


It seems like the best way to succeed *financially* as a podiatrist from what I have read is to share a private practice so that overhead costs can be split.


My question is how does a freshly graduated podiatrist with good residency experience gain lots of referrals in their medical community?


I am from Toronto, and many of the podiatrists/chiropodists seem to have worked in a hospital setting right out of grad and subsequently join a private practice, or open up one of their own afterwards. Is this because fresh grads just don't have the referral base to be successful in a private clinic setting?

Then there is the question of actually purchasing a private practice from a retiring or moving podiatrist that already has a broad patient base.


Just wondering the best ways to get referrals...

referrals are key for all medical specialists and healthcare providers - not just podiatrists. Most recent grads are shifting towards multi-specialist groups, podiatry group practices, or orthopoedic groups - and i see this trend continuing for many years thereafter. Why? For starters, less financial obligation, more visibility, and referral (network) opportunities off the bat. Here in US, many of our residency grads would join practices with former residency grads of the same program or with other physicians (specialists) from their current program - the main goal here is to work with physicians that you are comfortable with...this isn't necessarily a numbers game to work with as many doctors as possible - rather, it is more so of comfort. For that reasons, it is not uncommon to see a DPM working closely with an internal med that graduated from his residency program - mainly because they are comfortable with one another and have established a healthy working relationship.

The idea of buying an old or established practice is definitely something to consider if you want to be your own boss - but it would probably make more sense to work as an associate first, and buy into the practice later on - because even if you have an established patient base from before, they have to like working with you and you have to use your skills as a clinician and personality to attract more to come your way.

We discussed something similar to what you are inquiring about a few threads ago, as it is necessary for any successful medical specialist to have excellent management skills. Graduating with a medical degree is not going to cut it in this industry - you have to be very likeable, presentable, and carry strong communication skills to do well. Referrals will come with proper office management, and of course sound clinical skills - because if you're a lowsy doctor or clinician then no one will send you patients. And the beauty of our specialty and profession is that we have many opportunities to work with so many different specialists as long as we deliver and take care of the patient. For example, this is true story from a friend of mine, a patient walks into your office complaining of painful nodules on his feet, you suspect Rheumatoid Arthritis after the physical exam, so after your checkup/treatment, you order RF test and blood work and send him out to the Rheumatologist - guess what? It was RA, and you had the patient get proper treatment and care at an early stage? Do you think the Rheumatologist will be referring more patients for foot problems? You bet. But this is just one example of many believe me - my point here is that management skills have to be there as well as clinician skills.