How to get more hand surgery patients

Adults call hand and orthopedic practices about a finger that locks, a lump, fingers that will not straighten or sore finger joints. This guide helps owners and front desks with ads, calls and routing for trigger finger, ganglion cysts, Dupuytren contracture and hand arthritis; carpal tunnel has its own guide. The hand surgeon or treating clinician (the clinician below) evaluates the patient and decides the plan, including whether and which tests are needed.

In short

Speak to adults in plain words, without fear or shame.
Keep landing pages simple: conditions, evaluation, hand surgeon, price, one way to book.
Book the evaluation with a short script that never names a treatment.
Relay only the MedlinePlus lines for urgent signs, then tell the clinical team.
Follow up with consent, without pressure, and track each request.

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. Who the patients are and what they search for

Callers are adults; some bring a referral, imaging or a wish for a second opinion. They search for a hand surgeon near them, or for trigger finger, a locking finger, a ganglion cyst, Dupuytren contracture or thumb arthritis. Use the same words on your pages.

The MedlinePlus hand injuries and disorders page says “No matter how old you are or what you do for a living, you are always using your hands.” So no fear copy, and no shaming about age or looks. Aim ads at adults only, and never build audiences from health information.

2. Landing page basics

Name the conditions you see. Care starts with an evaluation.
Give the hand surgeon’s name and real credentials.
Give a starting price and what it includes. Self-pay patients may be entitled to a good faith estimate.
Show one way to book.

The MedlinePlus trigger finger page says “Trigger finger is diagnosed by medical history and a physical exam. Trigger finger usually does not require x-rays or lab tests.” The finger pain article says “Treatment depends on the cause of the problem.”

So never say who needs a test, never name a treatment, and never promise a straight finger, a stronger grip, a smaller lump or any outcome. Avoid “fix your hand”, “no more trigger finger”, “get your grip back”, “skip surgery”, “risk-free” and “insurance will cover it”. Better: “the hand surgeon will examine your hand, decide whether any tests are needed and talk through the options with you”.

3. The phone script

Staff collect answers and book. They never judge urgency, never say what condition a caller has and never name a treatment.

“Thanks for calling. May I take your name, your age and the reason for your visit?”
“Which hand, and did a doctor refer you? Please bring any earlier imaging.”
“The evaluation starts at [price]. Imaging may be extra. We will check your plan, but cannot promise coverage.”
Which treatment, and will it work? “We cannot tell that on the phone. The hand surgeon will examine you and decide with you whether any tests are needed and what the options are.”
“I can book your evaluation now. May we text or email you about it?”

Book adults only; pass any caller under 18 to the clinical team. Staff never advise on medicines or home care; they pass those questions on. See the new patient phone script.

4. Routing and safety lines

Relay only what the sources say, each line that matches, then tell the clinical team right away.

The MedlinePlus wrist pain article says “Get emergency care if:” and lists “You are unable to move your wrist, hand or a finger.”, “Your wrist, hand, or fingers are misshapen.” and “You are bleeding significantly.” Tell a caller who reports one of these exactly that.
The wrist pain article says “Contact your provider right away if you have any of the following:” and lists “Fever over 100°F (37.7°C)”, “Rash” and “Swelling and redness of your wrist and you have had a recent illness (like a virus or other infection)”. It also says “Contact your provider if you have any of the following:” and lists “Swelling, redness or stiffness in one or both wrists”, “Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the wrist, hand, or fingers with pain”, “Loss of any muscle mass in the wrist, hand, or fingers” and “Pain even after following self-care treatments for 2 weeks”. Relay these.
On compartment syndrome, the finger pain article says “A crushing injury can cause this serious condition, which requires immediate medical attention.” Relay that for a crushed finger.
After hand surgery, the trigger finger page says “If you notice signs of infection, contact your surgeon right away. Signs of infection include:” and lists “Redness in your cut or hand”, “Swelling or warmth in your cut or hand”, “Yellow or green drainage from the cut”, “Hand pain or discomfort” and “Fever”. It also says “If your trigger finger returns, contact your surgeon. You may need another surgery.” Relay that.
The finger pain article says “Contact your provider if:” and lists “Your finger pain is caused by severe injury”, “Your finger is deformed”, “The problem continues after 1 week of home treatment”, “You have numbness or tingling in your fingers”, “You have severe pain at rest”, “You can’t straighten your fingers” and “You have redness, swelling, or fever”. The Dupuytren contracture article says “Contact your provider if you have symptoms of this disorder. Also contact your provider if you lose feeling in your finger or if your fingertips feel cold or turn blue.” Relay that and book the evaluation.

Callers who say they feel anxious, stressed or upset go to the clinical team promptly. If a caller says they are thinking about killing or hurting themselves, stay with them and tell them to dial 911 if it is an emergency or to call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, as MedlinePlus advises, then tell the clinical team.

Text or email only with the patient’s own contact details and consent; see texting patients and the TCPA. Follow up without pressure; see consultation to treatment.

Make referrals easy, and never offer or accept payment for them; see patient referrals for medical practices. Track each request from first contact to evaluation.

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 hand surgery patients?

Answer quickly, give clear prices and real credentials, keep claims inside the sources, and book an evaluation where the clinician decides on tests and the plan.

Can we tell callers which treatment they need or that it will work?

No. MedlinePlus says treatment depends on the cause of the problem. The hand surgeon or treating clinician decides the plan after the evaluation.

What should the front desk do when a call sounds urgent?

Relay the matching MedlinePlus line from section 4, then tell the clinical team right away. If a caller says they are thinking about killing or hurting themselves, stay with them and tell them to dial 911 if it is an emergency or to call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, as MedlinePlus advises, then tell the clinical team.

Does insurance cover hand surgery care?

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.

More resources

All resources for practices

How to get more hand surgery patients: a plan for hand and orthopedic practices