For Referring Physicians
How to refer a patient to Dr. Simovitch.
Referring a patient
Ryan Simovitch, MD practices in West Palm Beach with a focus on sports medicine and the shoulder. His training reflects that focus from residency forward: an orthopedic residency at Duke University Medical Center, followed by fellowship on the Harvard Shoulder Service at Massachusetts General Hospital and a second year as part of the Harvard Intercontinental Shoulder Fellowship at Uniklinik Balgrist in Zurich, Switzerland.
That training underlies the scope of shoulder surgery he performs: arthroscopic rotator cuff and labral repair, arthroscopic and open instability surgery including Latarjet reconstruction, tendon transfer for irreparable rotator cuff tears, and anatomic and reverse total shoulder replacement, including revision replacement and replacement with computer navigation. He also manages acute shoulder trauma, repairing clavicle, humerus, and glenoid or scapula fractures, and treats AC joint dislocation.
Physicians weighing when a shoulder patient needs to move past conservative care can review the in-depth referral guide for specific thresholds by presentation. Dr. Simovitch's full training and practice background are on his physician profile.
Dr. Simovitch is accepting new patients.
At a glance
Which patients should I refer to Dr. Simovitch?
Refer patients whose shoulder problem falls outside straightforward primary-care management: rotator cuff tears, glenohumeral instability, post-traumatic fractures of the clavicle, humerus, glenoid, or scapula, and arthritis being evaluated for replacement.
Dr. Simovitch trained in the Harvard Shoulder Service fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital and completed the Harvard Intercontinental Shoulder Fellowship at Uniklinik Balgrist in Zurich, Switzerland, with a concentration in reconstructive and sports-related shoulder surgery. Dr. Simovitch performs open instability surgery, including Latarjet reconstruction, for recurrent dislocation that has failed bracing or activity modification. For threshold-by-condition guidance, see when imaging and timing change the referral decision.
What should I send with the referral?
Send current shoulder imaging first: plain radiographs for any suspected fracture or arthritis, and MRI if instability or a rotator cuff tear is suspected and already obtained.
Include a brief note on conservative treatment tried so far, its duration, and the patient's response, along with any physical therapy records. Do not delay a referral to obtain advanced imaging when a fracture or acute dislocation is suspected; send the index films and let the office request anything further.
How do I reach Dr. Simovitch's office to refer a patient?
Call the office directly; staff can place the patient on the schedule during that call rather than requiring a separate intake step.
Dr. Simovitch is accepting new patients, including direct referrals from physicians. Full contact information, office location in West Palm Beach, and scheduling details are listed on Dr. Simovitch's bio page.
What happens at the first visit after I refer a patient?
A focused shoulder exam, not a general orthopedic workup.
Dr. Simovitch reviews the history and prior imaging you've sent, examines the shoulder directly, and orders additional imaging only when the existing studies don't answer the clinical question in front of him. His fellowship training at the Harvard Shoulder Service (Massachusetts General Hospital) and at Uniklinik Balgrist in Zurich shapes that exam toward shoulder and sports-related injury specifically, so the visit stays narrow and efficient rather than screening broadly. More on that training is on his bio page.
How will I find out what was found and what's recommended?
A written summary comes back to your office after the visit, not only after treatment concludes.
That summary covers exam findings, the imaging read, and the recommended path, whether that path is nonoperative care, a structured course of therapy, or a surgical procedure ranging from arthroscopic rotator cuff or labral repair to anatomic or reverse total shoulder replacement, depending on what the exam and imaging show. If surgery follows, you'll also get the operative report and the post-surgical plan.
Does my patient stay under Dr. Simovitch's care, or come back to me?
They come back to you for everything outside the shoulder.
Dr. Simovitch's practice is built around sports medicine and shoulder care specifically, so once a nonoperative episode resolves or a surgical patient clears the expected recovery milestones, routine and general health management returns to your office. The referral guide lays out where that handoff typically falls by condition and procedure.
This information is educational and does not replace direct communication with our office about a specific patient.
Ready to talk about your care?
Call the office or request an appointment. Accepting new patients.