For orthopedic doctors and specialists, workers' compensation referrals present a valuable opportunity to grow your practice while helping injured employees recover and return to work. However, building and maintaining a strong referral network in the workers' compensation space can be challenging, especially as many adjusters and referral sources now work remotely.
To overcome these challenges and increase workers' compensation referrals, here are four effective strategies tailored to orthopedic doctors and specialists.
1. Delegate to an Existing Employee
One way to grow workers' compensation referrals is by assigning the responsibility to an existing team member. While this approach might seem straightforward, it comes with specific challenges:
Remote Work Barriers: Adjusters, case managers, and risk managers—the key decision-makers for workers' compensation referrals—often work remotely and rarely visit offices in person. Without existing relationships, it can be difficult for your staff to connect with them.
Specialized Knowledge Required: Workers' compensation referrals involve unique processes, regulations, and payer protocols. Employees without experience in this space may struggle to establish and maintain relationships.
If you have a team member who is already well-connected and understands the industry, this approach may work. However, for many practices, it requires significant time and effort to see results.
2. Hire a Dedicated Employee
Another option is to hire a new employee whose sole focus is workers' compensation referrals. This approach can be effective, but it comes with its own set of challenges:
High Costs: Hiring a new employee involves expenses such as payroll taxes, benefits, training, and travel.
Turnover Rates: Workers' compensation roles, such as adjusters and case managers, experience turnover rates as high as 40%. This makes it difficult for a new hire to establish long-term relationships.
Remote Work Challenges: Like existing employees, new hires will also face difficulties connecting with referral sources who work remotely.
This strategy is best suited for larger orthopedic practices with the resources to invest in a long-term plan.
3. Partner With Specialists in Workers' Compensation Growth
For many orthopedic doctors and specialists, outsourcing referral-building efforts to a trusted partner like OM Marketing can be the most efficient and effective solution. OM Marketing has been helping doctors grow their workers' compensation referrals for over 20 years. Here’s why this approach works:
Established Networks: OM connects specialists with key referral sources, including adjusters, risk managers, and employers, ensuring you reach the right people.
Cost-Effective: Outsourcing eliminates the expenses and time commitments associated with hiring and managing employees.
Regulatory Expertise: OM ensures that all doctors in its directory stay informed on the latest workers' compensation regulations, allowing you to focus on patient care.
By partnering with OM, orthopedic doctors can focus on providing excellent care while OM handles the complexities of relationship-building and outreach.
4. Leverage the OM Directory
The OM Directory is a valuable resource for doctors looking to grow their workers' compensation referrals. Featuring WorkCompReady™ certified doctors, the directory is trusted by employers, adjusters, and case managers to find specialists who adhere to best practices. By listing your practice in the OM Directory, you gain exposure to key decision-makers who are actively seeking providers for injured employees.
Steps to Strengthen Your Workers' Compensation Foundation
Before implementing any strategy, it’s essential to establish a strong foundation for your workers' compensation program. Here’s how:
Analyze Revenue Trends: Review your workers' compensation revenue over the past three years to identify opportunities for growth or areas needing improvement.
Streamline Office Procedures: Ensure your office’s processes and paperwork meet the expectations of adjusters and case managers. Timely and accurate documentation is critical for maintaining strong referral relationships.
Seek Feedback: Ask adjusters and referral sources for honest feedback about your responsiveness, communication, and quality of care. Use this input to make meaningful improvements.
Why Workers' Compensation Referrals Matter for Specialists
For orthopedic doctors and other specialists, workers' compensation referrals are more than just a way to grow your practice—they’re an opportunity to provide critical care to injured employees and support their recovery. These cases often involve complex injuries that require your expertise, making your role essential in the workers' compensation process.
For patients, having access to trusted specialists ensures they receive the right care at the right time. For adjusters and employers, partnering with reliable specialists means better outcomes for injured employees and a smoother return-to-work process.
A strong referral network benefits everyone involved—patients, adjusters, employers, and specialists alike.
How OM Marketing Can Help Orthopedic Doctors
Since 2004, OM Marketing has been a trusted partner for orthopedic doctors and specialists, helping them grow their workers' compensation referrals through proven strategies and industry expertise. Here’s how we can help:
WorkCompReady™ Certification: Equip yourself and your staff with the knowledge and tools needed to excel in workers' compensation care.
Referral Network Building: OM connects you with adjusters, risk managers, and employers nationwide, helping you expand your reach.
The OM Directory: Our planned directory will make it easier for adjusters, employers, and patients to find highly rated specialists for both work-related and personal care needs.
OM Marketing is committed to supporting orthopedic doctors by connecting them with the right referral sources and ensuring they stay informed on the latest regulations.
Ready to grow your workers' compensation referrals?Contact OM Marketing at info@ommktg.com to learn how we can help orthopedic doctors and specialists achieve their goals.
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