How to get more knee arthroscopy patients

Knee arthroscopy is a procedure some patients pay for themselves and others ask their insurer about, and how it is described shapes who books and what they expect. Many callers mention knee pain, swelling, a knee that locks or gives way, or a sports injury. This guide is for owners, coordinators and front desk teams in orthopedic and sports medicine practices: what MedlinePlus and NIAMS say about knee problems and knee arthroscopy, which claims to avoid, and how to turn requests into well-informed consultations. Here, the orthopedic surgeon examines the knee and decides which tests are needed, and the surgeon and patient decide together on surgery and the procedure.

SearchAn adult looks for care near them.
Your pageWhat you treat, who sees them, one way to book.
Call or formThey call or send a request.
Front deskBooks the visit and never guesses a cause.
Clinical teamThe clinician decides the plan.

How a new patient request reaches your practice.

1. Know what knee arthroscopy is and is not

The MedlinePlus knee injuries and disorders topic page says “Knee problems can cause pain and difficulty walking.” The MedlinePlus article on knee arthroscopy says “Knee arthroscopy is surgery that uses a tiny camera to look inside your knee.” The topic page also says “Treatment of knee problems depends on the cause.”

Care usually starts without surgery. The MedlinePlus article on knee pain says “Rest and avoid activities that cause pain.” The MedlinePlus page on meniscus tears says “For mild tears, you may be able to treat the injury with rest and self-care.” Its list of what a patient may need includes “Physical therapy to help improve joint motion and leg strength”.

The knee pain article says “Your provider will perform a physical exam, to include your knees, hips, legs, and other joints.” It also says “In some cases, you may need surgery.” The NIAMS page on sports injuries says “Surgery is needed in some cases to repair torn connective tissues or to realign fractured bones.” Only a physician diagnoses knee problems, and the physician or surgeon decides whether imaging is needed. The front desk does not say whether a caller has a torn meniscus or ligament or needs surgery.

Some callers ask for an MRI only, or bring images from another clinic. Book the evaluation the same way, give the price, do not promise which imaging the surgeon will order or what it will show, and do not promise surgery based on an earlier scan.

Do not present surgery or a named technique as the only answer or as a sure fix. The surgeon explains the options and decides on treatment with the patient.

Many visits involve a referral, often from a primary care doctor or a physical therapist. Make the hand off from referring clinicians easy, and never offer or accept payment for referrals. See also patient referrals for medical practices, how to get more bunion surgery patients and how to get more carpal tunnel surgery patients.

2. Keep claims in line with the risk information

MedlinePlus gives a balanced picture of surgery. The knee arthroscopy article lists the risks.

the knee arthroscopy article lists general risks of anesthesia and surgery such as allergic reactions to medicines, breathing problems, bleeding and infection;
it also lists risks of this surgery, including bleeding into the knee joint, damage to the cartilage, meniscus or ligaments, a blood clot in the leg, injury to a blood vessel or nerve, infection in the knee joint and knee stiffness.

On results, the same article says “Full recovery after knee arthroscopy will depend on what type of problem was treated.” It also says “If you also have arthritis in your knee, you will still have arthritis symptoms after surgery to repair other damage to your knee.” Do not promise pain relief, a return to a sport or activity, a recovery time or any other outcome in ads or on the phone.

Procedure choice belongs in the exam room. The meniscus tears page says “Treatment may depend on your age, activity level, and where the tear occurs.” Do not push a named technique or add-ons; the surgeon explains the options after the exam, and the surgeon and patient decide together.

Write about patients with respect. Do not use fear copy about arthritis, further knee damage or missing a season, do not blame or shame people about their weight, age, sports or activity level, and avoid shock images and deadline pressure. Do not use a named technique or incision size as an ad hook. Keep ad copy aimed at adults, and never target minors in ads or social campaigns. Do not build ad audiences from knee or sports injuries, arthritis, past imaging, test results, medicines or other health information.

Be careful with children and teenagers. Most requests come from adults, but some calls will be from a parent about a child or teenager who plays sports. The knee pain article says “Knee pain is a common symptom in people of all ages.” Do not tell parents that a child needs knee surgery or that any treatment will fix it. For a minor, a parent or guardian books and consents, and the surgeon decides whether and when treatment makes sense. If you text or email about an appointment for a minor, use the parent’s or guardian’s contact details and consent; see texting patients and the TCPA.

Avoid “arthroscopy guarantees”, “pain-free”, “same-day return to sports”, “cure”, “permanent fix”, “minimally invasive”, “keyhole surgery”, “no downtime”, “stem cell”, “risk-free”, “guaranteed results”, “insurance will cover it” and “FDA-approved”. Better: “the surgeon will examine your knee, explain the options, including rest, activity changes and physical therapy, and help you decide whether and when surgery makes sense”.

3. Answer first-call questions honestly

How much does it cost? Give a clear starting price, say what it includes (consultation, any imaging the surgeon orders, the surgery, anesthesia, follow-up visits) and that what the surgeon finds, which procedure the surgeon and patient choose and whether physical therapy is part of the plan affect the total. Say whether the consultation and imaging are priced separately.
Does insurance pay? Do not promise coverage. Coverage varies by plan, so the practice checks each patient’s plan.
Do I need knee arthroscopy? “We cannot tell that on the phone. The surgeon will ask about your knee, how the injury happened, your symptoms and daily activities, your health and medicines, examine your knee and talk with you about the options, including rest and physical therapy and whether surgery makes sense.”
Will I be asleep? Do not promise a type of anesthesia; the surgeon explains the options.
Who does the work? Give the surgeon’s name and real credentials. Let callers check them with the state medical board.

When a caller asks about insurance, staff take the plan details and say the practice will check; they never say the treatment will be covered.

Leave screening to the surgeon. Your intake form can ask the patient’s age, the reason for the visit, which knee is affected, how and when the problem started, what has been tried (rest, ice, a brace, physical therapy), any past knee imaging or surgery, the referring clinician, current medicines, allergies and health conditions; for a minor, the parent or guardian fills it in. NIAMS says the doctor will likely “Ask about the injury and how it happened.” Never tell a caller to stop a medicine by a certain date, and never suggest a medicine, pain reliever, brace or exercise. Medicine changes before surgery are for the surgeon to explain; MedlinePlus says “Ask your surgeon which medicines you should still take on the day of your surgery.” The front desk does not judge how urgent a call is. Pass any report of a serious knee injury, a knee that cannot bear weight, locks or gives way, severe pain, a lot of swelling, a fever, swelling or pain in the calf, a foot or toes that look darker or feel cool, or bleeding, redness or discharge from the incisions after surgery to the clinical team promptly. MedlinePlus says “Contact your provider right away if you have a serious knee injury.” It also says “Get immediate medical attention if the foot is cool and blue after a knee injury.” If a caller reports a foot that is cool and blue after a knee injury during the call, also tell the caller to seek emergency care. The MedlinePlus knee pain article says “Contact your provider if:” and lists “You cannot bear weight on your knee.”, “You have severe pain, even when not bearing weight.”, “Your knee buckles, clicks, or locks.”, “Your knee is deformed or misshapen.”, “You cannot flex your knee or have trouble straightening it all the way out.”, “You have a fever, redness or warmth around the knee, or a lot of swelling.”, “You have pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, or bluish discoloration in the calf below the sore knee.” and “You still have pain after 3 days of home treatment.” The MedlinePlus meniscus tears page says “Contact your provider if:” and lists “You have increased swelling or pain”, “Self-care does not seem to help”, “Your knee locks and you can’t straighten it” and “Your knee becomes more unstable”. It also says “If you have surgery, contact your surgeon if you have:” and lists “A fever of 100°F (38°C) or higher”, “Drainage from the incisions” and “Bleeding that won’t stop”. Relay these. The surgeon decides whether someone is a candidate and which treatment is suitable. Front desk staff only collect the answers. Use the new patient phone script for the rest of the call, and book the consultation, not the treatment, while the caller is on the line.

4. Plan the consultation, surgery day and recovery

The knee pain article lists tests the provider may do, including “MRI of the knee if a ligament or meniscus tear could be the cause”. Tell callers that the choice of care comes after the exam.

Make second opinions easy, and give patients time to try rest, activity changes and physical therapy first, as the surgeon advises.

For surgery day and recovery, ask your surgeons for written notes on preparing for surgery, a ride home, crutches and weight bearing as the surgeon sets it, dressing care, physical therapy, warning signs and follow-up visits. MedlinePlus says “Ask your surgeon if you need to arrange to have someone drive you home after your surgery.” Share them with callers and parents early. Aftercare depends on the treatment; the surgeon gives exact instructions and sets the follow-up schedule.

5. Price, finance and follow up

Self-pay patients may be entitled to a good faith estimate; see the good faith estimate guide.
If you advertise a discount, follow advertising prices and specials. Avoid deadline pressure on a treatment decision.
If you offer financing, follow the patient financing guide.
Before-and-after photos need written authorization and honest comparisons; see before-and-after photos. FTC guides treat a patient’s result as typical unless you disclose what patients can generally expect.
Follow up after the consultation without pressure; see consultation to treatment. Track knee arthroscopy requests and referrals separately, from request to consultation to treatment, and keep the notes the surgeon needs for follow-up visits.

Where MediLeadGen fits

MediLeadGen sends practices requests from people interested in cash-pay elective treatments. Each request goes to one practice only, with the person’s consent naming that practice, at a fixed price per delivered request.

See how it works for practices

Questions practices ask

How do we get more knee arthroscopy patients?

Answer requests quickly, give clear prices and what they include, introduce the surgeon by real credentials, keep claims in line with the risk information, make referrals and second opinions easy, and book a consultation where the surgeon can ask about symptoms, how the injury happened, what has been tried and daily activities, examine the knee and explain the options, starting with rest, activity changes and physical therapy.

Can we promise callers no more knee pain or a return to their sport?

No. MedlinePlus says full recovery after knee arthroscopy depends on what type of problem was treated, and that a person who also has arthritis in the knee will still have arthritis symptoms after surgery. Staff collect intake answers only, and the surgeon and patient decide on surgery and the procedure after the exam.

What should the front desk do when a caller reports a cool or blue foot after a knee injury, or signs of infection after surgery?

Collect the intake answers and pass any report of a serious knee injury, a knee that cannot bear weight, locks or gives way, severe pain, a lot of swelling, a fever, swelling or pain in the calf, a foot or toes that look darker or feel cool, or bleeding, redness or discharge from the incisions after surgery to the clinical team promptly, and tell a caller with a foot that is cool and blue after a knee injury to seek emergency care. The front desk does not judge how urgent a call is or suggest a treatment or medicine; the surgeon decides.

Does insurance cover knee arthroscopy?

Coverage varies by plan. Check each patient’s plan, and do not promise coverage in ads or on the phone.

General information for practice teams, not legal or clinical advice. Check device labeling, FDA requirements, state rules and your advertising with counsel and your clinicians. Last reviewed October 2026.

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How to get more knee arthroscopy patients: a plan for practices