Services
For referring practices
You would like an orthopaedic or bone health question assessed and are looking for the appropriate contact. A specific clinical question and findings already obtained help us prepare further investigations in a focused way. OrthoCoast brings together non-surgical orthopaedics and osteology in Wolgast.
Open individual sections or all the details on this page.
Understanding
A closer look
We would like to develop outpatient care together with referring practices. If you have ideas for making collaboration and care for our shared patients easier, we welcome a discussion with you. Your contact is Priv. Doz. Dr. med. habil. Richard Kasch. Please contact us by phone or, if you prefer, by email.
A clear clinical question for the referral
Please state what the referral is intended to clarify, for example persistent spinal symptoms, restricted joint function or a bone health question. Briefly add the course so far, relevant existing conditions and measures already taken. In specialist bone care particularly, previous findings can substantially influence the next treatment decision. Please therefore include the results you consider important. Your specific question on the referral form helps us build on your assessment.
Further specialist bone investigation should lead to treatment from which the individual patient can reasonably be expected to benefit. Alongside fracture risk, we therefore consider other conditions, general health, life expectancy and personal treatment goals in planning. What matters is the benefit that can be expected within the available time and the burden of investigations and treatment. Advanced age or frailty alone does not rule out treatment. In complex cases, we are happy to discuss with you beforehand which investigations and treatments are appropriate and practical for the individual. This allows us to plan necessary care specifically and avoid unnecessary burden and investigations that would not affect treatment.
Please tell us if symptoms or findings change significantly between the referral and appointment. The online booking system provides access to regular appointments; choosing an appointment type does not replace a medical assessment of urgency. If you consider an urgent same-day assessment necessary, please arrange this with us by phone. Use the doctors' direct line sent by post to colleagues in the surrounding area.
Orthopaedic and bone health specialisms
Our orthopaedic care focuses particularly on non-surgical treatments for spinal, joint, tendon and muscle symptoms. Our work in back pain treatment combines orthopaedic assessment with the non-surgical treatments available at our practice. The appropriate treatment is chosen according to the specific situation.
In osteology, we provide osteoporosis investigations, fracture risk assessment, drug treatment and follow-up. DXA and laboratory investigations for bone disorders are possible components. The pages on our specialisms and diagnostic tests explain their respective roles. Doctor profiles show each clinician's qualifications and areas of work.
Further information
Which documents are helpful
The specific clinical question, relevant previous findings, details of earlier treatments and an up-to-date medication plan, preferably with a QR code, are helpful. Where imaging already exists, we need both the written radiology report and the images or usable access to them. If you arranged an MRI, CT or X-ray examination, please include the report sent to you with the referral. We do not receive these reports automatically if we did not request the examination ourselves. The radiology report allows us to take our radiology colleagues' assessment into account. Please also remind patients to bring a still-valid QR code or other supplied access to the images. The validity period of digital image access depends on the provider, usually three months in our region. If access has expired, please ask patients to request new access from the facility that performed the examination.
Please ask patients to bring their existing documents to the agreed appointment and mention them immediately at reception. Documents important for the treatment appointment are scanned there. You can also send us reports in advance via KIM for both new and existing patients. Please tell patients that you have already sent the documents.
Initial specialist bone assessment and follow-up
You are welcome to refer patients who have not previously had specialist bone investigations, as well as those needing bone health follow-up. Existing DXA reports with the scan date and earlier specialist bone findings help our assessment.
Please refer patients with signs of increased fracture risk early, ideally before a first osteoporotic fracture occurs. This allows us to start investigations in good time and plan suitable treatment. Osteoporosis medicines differ in their mechanism of action and their effectiveness in reducing fractures. The time course of their effect also depends on the chosen therapy and the individual situation. Early referral gives us the opportunity to improve bone health through treatment and reduce fracture risk before a bone breaks. Our aim is to avoid fractures and the associated pain, limitations in daily life and secondary conditions wherever possible. Osteoporosis often requires longer-term treatment and follow-up; depending on the therapy, a reduction in fracture risk may already be demonstrable within the first year of treatment. After an osteoporotic fracture, prompt assessment and treatment planning are particularly important.
If another practice has recently performed a DXA scan and the associated specialist bone assessment is not yet complete, please first refer the patient back there. This includes any outstanding history-taking and additional investigations. In accordance with our agreement with colleagues in the region, we do not take over this ongoing assessment before it is complete. This keeps the investigations already started under one provider's care.
What to expect and next steps
Contact and further coordination
For direct doctor-to-doctor coordination, please use the direct number sent to you by post. If you do not know this number, you can reach our practice on 03836 200893. We will gladly provide the direct number again. You can also leave a message and we will call you back. Please say that you are calling from a referring practice and which question you would like to discuss. General contact details are also available under ‘Contact and directions’.
For discussion about our outpatient network, please contact Priv. Doz. Dr. med. habil. Richard Kasch. You can send reports in advance via KIM. Please discuss by phone whether an appointment at short notice is necessary and possible.
Frequently asked questions
Which reports should accompany the referral?
Please include the specific clinical question, relevant previous findings and an up-to-date medication plan, preferably with a QR code. Where imaging already exists, we need the written radiology report and images, or valid access to them. Digital image access may be time-limited. If it has expired, which in our region usually happens after three months, please ask patients to request new access from the facility that performed the examination. Please include the report sent to you with the referral form.
Can I send documents digitally in advance?
Yes. You can send us reports in advance via KIM for new and existing patients. Please tell patients that the documents have already been sent.
Where can I find the relevant specialist contact?
The doctor profiles list qualifications and areas of work. Which doctor is appropriate for a particular referral is clarified when arranging the appointment. For professional discussion about developing our outpatient network, your contact is Priv. Doz. Dr. med. habil. Richard Kasch.
Your next step
