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How to get more arthritis patients: a plan for rheumatology and orthopedic practices

The front desk of an orthopedic and sports medicine practice seen from the waiting area

Adults call about joint pain, stiffness or swelling that keeps coming back, stiff joints in the morning or a follow-up after an arthritis diagnosis. This guide covers osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis care in rheumatology and orthopedic practices; gout, osteoporosis, hip pain, back pain and knee arthroscopy have their own guides. The rheumatologist, orthopedic 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 with sore, stiff or swollen joints in plain words, without fear or blame.
  • Keep landing pages simple: symptoms you see, evaluation, clinician, price, one way to book.
  • Book the visit with a short script that never names a treatment.
  • Relay only the MedlinePlus contact your provider lines, then tell the clinical team.
  • Follow up with consent, without pressure, and track each request.
  1. SearchAn adult looks for care near them.
  2. Your pageWhat you treat, who sees them, one way to book.
  3. Call or formThey call or send a request.
  4. Front deskBooks the visit and never guesses a cause.
  5. 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 with sore, stiff or swollen joints in the hands, knees or other joints, stiffness in the morning, or a diagnosis they want to follow up. They search for an arthritis doctor, a rheumatologist near them, or help for joint pain that keeps coming back. Use the same words on your pages.

The MedlinePlus osteoarthritis page says “Osteoarthritis affects people in different ways, and not everyone has pain.” NIAMS says “RA affects people differently.” The MedlinePlus arthritis page adds “Some symptoms of arthritis may be signs of other illnesses.” So staff never guess the type or the cause. MedlinePlus also says “Your provider may refer you to a rheumatologist (a doctor who specializes in arthritis care) for tests, diagnosis, and care.” Aim ads at adults only, and never build audiences from health information.

2. Landing page basics

  • Name the symptoms you see. Care starts with an evaluation.
  • Give the clinician’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.

Never say who needs a test, never name a treatment, and never promise any outcome. Avoid “end your arthritis pain”, “move like you used to”, “no more stiff joints”, “risk-free” and “insurance will cover it”. Better: “the clinician will review your history, examine your joints and talk through the options with you, including whether any tests are needed”.

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.

  1. “Thanks for calling. May I take your name, your age and the reason for your visit?”
  2. “Did a doctor refer you? Please bring a list of your medicines and any earlier test reports.”
  3. “The evaluation starts at [price]. Tests may be extra. We will check your plan, but cannot promise coverage.”
  4. Which treatment, and will it work? “We cannot tell that on the phone. The clinician will review your history, examine your joints and decide with you whether any tests are needed and what the options are.”
  5. “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, activity, food or home care; they pass those questions on. See the new patient phone script.

4. Routing and safety lines

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

  • The MedlinePlus arthritis article says “Contact your provider if:” and lists “Your joint pain persists beyond 3 days.”, “You have severe unexplained joint pain.”, “The affected joint is significantly swollen.”, “You have a hard time moving the joint.”, “Your skin around the joint is red or hot to the touch.” and “You have a fever or have lost weight unintentionally.” Relay that.

Many reports match more than one line; relay each line that matches, so staff never choose between them. The saved sources give no other urgent line, so staff add none of their own. Any other report that worries a caller, such as a new injury or a problem after earlier joint care, goes to the clinical team right away.

Make a follow-up visit after an arthritis diagnosis elsewhere easy to book; the clinician decides what it covers and how often to see the patient.

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), never pay or take payment for referrals (see patient referrals for medical practices), and 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 arthritis 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 type of arthritis. The rheumatologist, orthopedic surgeon or treating clinician examines the patient and decides the plan after the evaluation, including whether and which tests are needed.

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. Staff never judge urgency and never say what condition a caller has.

Does insurance cover arthritis 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.

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