The gap between an orthopedic referral and the first PT visit

A sent referral is only the start

A workable handoff needs a receiving practice, an appointment that can actually happen, and someone responsible when the process stalls. Start with one local pathway and existing clinical teams. Confirm what each team can support before inviting patients.

Use the practice’s existing payer contracts carefully

Keep the named treating and billing practice clear. Verify the exact rendering clinician, billing entity, location, service, dates and payer product through the responsible team. A marketplace listing or affiliation does not establish payer enrollment or patient benefits. BoneArc’s first path builds on established practices while a separate network is developed.

Connect the clinical plan to the receiving therapist

Make the referral reason, relevant protocol and treating team’s restrictions available through an authorized clinical workflow. The receiving clinician reviews the plan and remains responsible for clinical decisions. Connect the assigned HEP and protocol to the existing BoneArc patient relationship rather than creating a detached exercise handout.

Treat image access and report receipt as separate steps

When a clinician orders outside imaging, agree on the exact receiving destination and test the route with the imaging center. Record complete-study access, final-report receipt and clinical review separately. A document upload or a portal link is not evidence that the full study reached the clinician. BoneArc’s coordination record supports this evidence; an imaging-center or PACS connection still requires real operational acceptance.

Close the loop when the plan changes

Define who handles an unavailable appointment, a cancellation, a missed visit, a missing order or an unread report. Make a named team responsible for exceptions. Keep communications inside the authorized care workflow and avoid exporting patient-level information into sales tools.

Measure follow-through before expanding

Count referrals invited, accepted and scheduled, first visits completed, time to first visit, unresolved exceptions and the staff time needed per completed handoff. Use actual denominators. A waitlist signup is interest; it is not an activated practice, a completed appointment or proof of a clinical outcome.

The BoneArc marketplace is coming soon

The existing BoneArc platform supports home exercise programs and protocols. The marketplace is being prepared to connect those workflows to care access and follow-up. Public discovery and booking remain closed. Practices, surgeons, therapists and imaging teams can join the launch-interest list; no enrollment, referrals or revenue are guaranteed.