RTA: A Metric for Value-Based Care

There is one critical metric that is the key to unlocking a myriad of mission-critical problems plaguing the healthcare industry, the “referral-to-appointment” ratio, or RTA. A new concept to healthcare, RTA is the foundation for value-based care organizations, allowing them to confidently take on more risk while at the same time empower those who are focused on the traditional fee-for-service model of healthcare delivery. A high RTA benefits everyone by scheduling patients for the healthcare they need and by supporting the current, and most importantly, future healthcare ecosystems.

RTA allows the primary care provider to know where patients were sent if they were seen, how quickly they got in for their appointment, and what the result of that appointment was. This connection and coordination is the foundation for a successful value-based care program.