For referring physicians
How to refer a patient to Dr. Cole.
Referring a patient
Jeff Cole, MD treats hand, wrist, and elbow conditions at OrthoSouth in Memphis. He completed fellowship training in Surgery of the Hand & Upper Extremity at Washington University, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, following orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Tennessee, Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, and medical school at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville.
His practice centers on hand and upper extremity evaluation, including endoscopic carpal tunnel release, treatment for thumb CMC joint arthritis, the TENEX procedure for epicondylitis, fracture care for hand and wrist injuries, and surgical treatment for hand, wrist, and elbow conditions. He also provides urgent evaluation for acute upper extremity injuries, a route worth keeping in mind for patients who need to be seen quickly rather than scheduled into a routine queue.
Background on Dr. Cole's training and clinical focus is on his physician bio. Referral thresholds specific to hand, wrist, and elbow complaints, including what supports an urgent versus routine referral, are detailed in the referral guide. Dr. Cole is accepting new patients.
At a glance
Which patients should I refer to Dr. Cole?
Any patient with a hand, wrist, or elbow problem that has not resolved with appropriate first-line care, or any acute upper extremity injury, is appropriate for referral.
Dr. Cole's practice is built around these two regions: hand and wrist, and elbow. Within that scope he performs endoscopic carpal tunnel release, the TENEX procedure for epicondylitis, surgical treatment for thumb CMC joint arthritis, and fracture care for hand and wrist injuries, in addition to standard hand and upper extremity evaluation. He completed fellowship training in Surgery of the Hand and Upper Extremity at Washington University, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, so complex or ambiguous presentations in this region, not just clear surgical candidates, are reasonable to send. Dr. Cole is accepting new patients. For presentation-specific criteria and urgency windows, see the full referral guide for hand, wrist, and elbow conditions.
What should I send with the referral?
Send the relevant exam findings, how long the symptoms have been present, any imaging already obtained, and a summary of what has already been tried.
For suspected fracture or thumb CMC arthritis, prior x-rays are useful but not required before referral. For suspected carpal tunnel syndrome, note the distribution of numbness and any nerve conduction or EMG results if they exist, but don't delay referral to obtain them. For epicondylitis, document the duration of symptoms and what conservative measures (bracing, activity modification, injection) have already failed. If the injury is acute, an urgent evaluation for acute upper extremity injuries can proceed without any of this worked up in advance.
How do I refer a patient to Dr. Cole?
Call the office directly, fax the referral, or submit it through the practice's online referral form.
All three routes reach the same scheduling team at OrthoSouth, and routine and urgent referrals are triaged the same day they're received. Background on Dr. Cole's training and clinical focus, including his residency at the University of Tennessee's Erlanger Hospital and his fellowship at Washington University, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, is on his physician profile if a staff member or patient needs it before the visit.
This content is educational and does not constitute medical advice.
Does the patient get a full evaluation at the first visit?
Yes. The first visit includes a focused hand and upper extremity evaluation, with the exam, history, and any outside imaging reviewed in person before a plan is set.
Dr. Cole's fellowship training in surgery of the hand and upper extremity, completed at Washington University, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, shapes how the exam and imaging are read at that visit, particularly for elbow and hand and wrist complaints. Acute injuries are evaluated on the same urgent track as routine referrals, so the timeline does not need to be renegotiated if a case turns out to be more acute than it looked on paper.
How does the referring physician receive the exam findings and treatment plan?
A written consultation note returns to the referring physician after the first visit, and again after any later visit that changes the plan.
The note states the exam findings, the imaging review, and the recommended course, whether that is observation, a procedure such as endoscopic carpal tunnel release or treatment for thumb CMC joint arthritis, or further workup before a decision is made. Background on Dr. Cole's training is posted on the physician bio for referring offices that want it on file.
Does the patient return to the referring physician once treatment is finished?
Yes, in most cases. Active management of the hand, wrist, or elbow condition stays with Dr. Cole's practice through treatment and the immediate recovery period, and the patient returns to the referring physician's ongoing care once that course concludes, with a closing note documenting the outcome.
Status: Accepting new patients.
Ready to talk about your care?
Call the office or request an appointment. Accepting new patients.