From Flat Footfall to Referral-Driven Growth
“Strong Reputation, but Flat Footfall!”

This mid-sized orthopedic hospital in the heart of Guntur had a solid clinical track record. Patient outcomes were excellent, and the hospital was well-regarded by the local community.
Yet, something wasn’t adding up.
Despite this strong reputation, daily outpatient footfall remained flat — around 10 – 15 patients a day, and only 1 or no surgeries a week were being performed. Most patients were either walk-ins or returning cases.

The potential was high, but growth was stagnant.

Why should I refer when I hear nothing back?

A disappointed Dr. From Rural survey, Vijayawada.

While the hospital was known among local doctors, referrals were inconsistent and unreliable. There was no structured referral system, no regular communication with doctors who sent patients, and no sense of involvement from the outside medical community.
Many referring doctors felt ignored. One RMP put it plainly during our field study: “They don’t even inform me after the surgery. I heard about it from the patient’s family. How can I trust that my referral is being handled well?”

Without trust or proper communication, referrals started shifting to other hospitals that had better systems in place.

What Tabor did:

We didn’t just hire a Referral team – We built Brand Ambassadors.

Tabor stepped in to build a Referral Marketing System from the ground up. Our 3-step approach focused on relationships, respect, and real results.

Step 1: Doctor Mapping: We first identified key GPs, RMPs, and ortho-relevant doctors within a 10 km radius.

  • Mapped 45 local doctors
  • Classified them by influence, specialty, and referral history
  • Identified “dormant” doctors who had stopped referring

Step 2: Trained Referral Marketing Team: Instead of just hiring marketers, we built a professional referral team trained like medical reps:
1 Admin cum Marketing Manager + 2 Field Marketing Executives

Their training focused on:

  • Basics of orthopedic treatments and common procedures, Product knowledge to Marketing guys!
  • Understanding patient journeys and how to guide them, being prepared for future patient encounters
  • Communicating with doctors respectfully — not with sales talk, but with empathy & team understanding of ground reality
  • Building long-term visibility and credibility for the referring doctor, maintain a real healthy relationship to eat their fruits for long term

“I’m like, what! Do doctors need training too?! But I saw the fruits.”

Sattar, Marketing Executive, Guntur.

“When I joined, the main doctor at the hospital was seeing just 11–20 patients a day. His wife, also a doctor, had only about 5–6 OPs. After we implemented Tabor’s system, that number shot up to 80+ OPs for him and 50+ for her, daily.

Working with Tabor for this hospital was like training at a national border — strict, focused, and full of learning. It changed my discipline, my communication skills, and my confidence.

I was trained not just to promote, but to own my role. We were pushed to bring ideas, be accountable, and make a real difference. Even doctors were trained to communicate better with patients and referral doctors. I’m like, what! Do doctors need training too?! But I saw the fruits. 

The system Tabor put in place didn’t feel like a job — it felt like a mission. That’s why I didn’t take Sundays off, even when they advised rest!
The recruitment and training were so hands-on, none of us felt like just staff. We became brand ambassadors, and I carry those skills wherever I go now.

Guntur’s hospitals need systems like this if they want real growth. Thanks to Tabor for shaping me and being part of a worthy achievement i got to build”

Step 3: Closing the Communication Loop: We created a clear communication channel between the hospital and the referring doctors:

  • Doctors were notified when their patient was admitted
  • Regular updates were shared post-surgery
  • They were invited for follow-ups or review discussions
  • Referring doctors were acknowledged publicly via WhatsApp updates and printed newsletters

We also implemented a simple shared referral tracker internally to log all incoming referrals and follow-ups. This transparency built trust quickly.

Results in just 90 days!

  • Daily OPs increased from 30 to 40 patients/day on an average 
  • Referral revenue jumped to close to a million in 3 months
  • Referral share grew from 30% to 58%
  • 10+ previously inactive doctors started actively referring

Hospital received its first two high-complexity trauma referrals from GPs who had never referred surgical cases before!

“This is the first time a hospital thanked me after a case. I know my patient is in safe hands — and I know I’m not forgotten and importantly as a fellow Doctor, I feel valued for my skill which makes me want to contribute more.”

Dr. Chandra shekar, RMP – Guntur Rural.

Why It Worked:
We Treated Referrals Like Family

Tabor didn’t just launch a referral department. We created a relationship-based ecosystem. We focused on:

  • Respecting clinical hierarchy and doctor’s time and judgement
  • Communicating like professionals, not salespeople
  • Giving visibility and voice to referring doctors
  • Avoiding corporate buzzwords — and building honest, person-to-person trust

We didn’t spend big on promotions. We just did the hard work of building relationships with the people who mattered — the doctors.

Referral Growth Doesn’t Happen by Luck — It Needs a System!

If your hospital is still depending on “good service will bring referrals,” it’s time to think differently. Loyalty is earned through systems, communication, and respect.

Tabor can help you! In and Out. 

Let’s bring high-quality patients to your hospital — not by chance, but by design.