# Pain and Ortho Treatment Decision Guide

## Why this exists
Many pain and orthopedic decisions stall after the consult because the patient is still weighing urgency, recovery, procedure fear, and whether the proposed path really fits their life.

## Referral and Procedure Intent
Separate cases by intent:
- early workup and information gathering
- procedure-ready but hesitant
- second opinion and comparison
- referral-driven with incomplete confidence

Each lane needs different follow-up and different trust reinforcement.

## Treatment Decision Friction
Track hesitation by:
- procedure fear
- recovery concern
- timing uncertainty
- unclear next-step expectations
- low confidence that the path fits the diagnosis

## Post-Consult Follow-Up
Use a structured sequence:
1. same-day summary
2. next-step confidence note within 24 hours
3. unresolved-question follow-up within 3 business days
4. higher-intent rescue for patients still delaying

## Monthly Review
Every month review:
- consult-to-treatment conversion
- hesitation lanes by type
- referral source quality
- which proof and answer blocks moved patients forward

## Operating Notes
- Not every delay is price or fear; many are still clarity problems.
- Great follow-up reduces uncertainty instead of repeating the same recommendation louder.
- The best treatment-decision systems support both the patient and the referring source.