De Schouderdokter

What De Schouderdokter does

De Schouderdokter is the first medical specialist clinic in the Netherlands exclusively dedicated to shoulder complaints, operating from a single site at Leeghwaterplein 45 in Den Haag. The clinic delivers end-to-end shoulder care — from in-consultation ultrasound and on-site X-ray imaging to a full surgical portfolio — addressing conditions including frozen shoulder, calcific tendinitis, rotator cuff tears, osteoarthritis, instability, dislocation, and AC joint pathology. The clinical team comprises three orthopedic surgeons (Drs. Pol Huijsmans, Dr. Peer van der Zwaal, Drs. Eline Zwitser), a neurologist (Dr. Dénes Tavy), consultants/echographers, a clinic manager, and a policy advisor. The clinic has developed several proprietary techniques, most notably the GT-tunneler for rotator cuff repair, an arthroscopic bone block procedure introduced in 2014 and applied since 2016, and the introduction of hydrodilatatie into Dutch practice.

The clinic differentiates itself through single-specialty depth, a 9.9/10 rating on Zorgkaart Nederland, and an eight-day average access time to first appointment. Proprietary methods (GT-tunneler, arthroscopic bone block) and a 90% success rate on hydrodilatatie underpin clinical reputation. Patient acquisition is referral-led via Zorgdomein, Zorgmail, and secure email from GPs, physiotherapists, and medical specialists; the clinic also runs a recurring nascholing (continuing education) program for referring practitioners. Second opinion consultations are offered to patients seeking reassessment.

Revenue is generated through the Dutch DBC (Diagnose Behandel Combinatie) billing system, with contracts in place with VGZ, ONVZ, DSW, and Zorg en Zekerheid. Care is covered by basic health insurance (basisverzekering); patients pay the mandatory €385 eigen risico (2025). Uninsured and self-referring patients pay passer-by rates (passantentarieven). The clinic operates under ZKN (Zelfstandige Klinieken Nederland) certification with audited quality management. No external investors, funding rounds, or parent company are disclosed; ownership appears to be an independent group of medical professionals.

Name

De Schouderdokter

Legal name

De Schouderdokter

Website

https://deschouderdokter.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

De Schouderdokter is the first Dutch medical specialist clinic exclusively dedicated to shoulder complaints, operating a single site in Den Haag that delivers diagnostics, conservative care, and surgery under the Dutch DBC billing system. It serves referred patients, GPs, physiotherapists, and specialists, and differentiates through proprietary techniques and ZKN certification.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Den Haag

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Medical specialist consultations and treatments: Healthcare services billed through the Dutch DBC (Diagnose Behandel Combinatie) system. Care is covered by basic health insurance (basisverzekering). Patients pay mandatory deductible (eigen risico) of €385 (2025). Clinic has contracts with VGZ, ONVZ, DSW, and Zorg en Zekerheid brands.
2. Diagnostic imaging services: Ultrasound (echography) performed during every consultation. X-ray available on-site. MRI and other imaging referred externally when necessary.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

De Schouderdokter is a single-specialty medical clinic in Den Haag, Netherlands, exclusively dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of shoulder conditions. It delivers specialist consultations, on-site ultrasound and X-ray diagnostics, and a full range of conservative and surgical treatments including cortisone injections, barbotage, hydrodilatatie, rotator cuff repair using the proprietary GT-tunneler technique, shoulder stabilization, shoulder prosthesis (anatomical, hemi, reversed), and clavicle procedures. Services are billed through the Dutch DBC system under basic health insurance.

Product overview

De Schouderdokter is the first medical specialist clinic in the Netherlands exclusively dedicated to shoulder conditions. The clinic offers a comprehensive range of shoulder treatments including corticosteroid injections, barbotage, tendon repair (rotator cuff repair), hydrodilatation, shoulder stabilization, shoulder prosthesis (anatomical, hemi, and reversed), clavicle stabilization, and distal clavicle resection. The clinic provides diagnostic services including ultrasound examinations, X-rays, and coordinates external MRI and CT imaging. Additionally, the clinic offers second opinion consultations and continuing education (nascholing) programs for healthcare professionals. The treatment portfolio addresses conditions such as shoulder pain, frozen shoulder, calcific tendinitis, rotator cuff tears, shoulder osteoarthritis, tendonitis, dislocations, clavicle pain, and nerve problems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cortisone Injectie Anti-inflammatory corticosteroid injection administered for severe or persistent shoulder pain, often performed under ultrasound guidance for precise placement. For patients with shoulder pain not responding to conservative care.
• Barbotage Ultrasound-guided needling procedure in which calcification deposits in shoulder tendons are punctured with an injection needle to trigger the body's natural dissolution process. For patients with calcific tendinitis.
• Hechten van de Pezen (Rotator Cuff Repair) Rotator cuff repair surgery, typically performed via arthroscopy, where tendons are reattached to bone using the patented GT-tunneler technique developed by Dr. Huijsmans. For patients with torn rotator cuff tendons.
• Hydrodilatatie Treatment in which a saline solution is injected into the shoulder joint after local anesthesia to stretch the joint capsule and create space, with a 90% pain reduction success rate. Introduced in the Netherlands by Dr. Huijsmans. For patients with frozen shoulder / adhesive capsulitis.
• Schouderstabilisatie (Shoulder Stabilization) Shoulder stabilization surgery including arthroscopic ligament repair (Bankart repair), arthroscopic bone block procedures, and Latarjet operations for shoulder dislocation and instability.
• Schouderprothese (Shoulder Prosthesis) Shoulder prosthesis surgery including total anatomical shoulder prosthesis, half shoulder prosthesis (hemiarthroplasty), and reversed shoulder prosthesis for cases with irreparable tendon tears or severe arthritis.
• Sleutelbeen Stabilisatie (Clavicle Stabilization) AC joint stabilization surgery where the clavicle is repositioned and fixed to the coracoid using suture tape and tendon/ligament for patients with collarbone problems.
• Inkorten Sleutelbeen (Distal Clavicle Resection) Distal clavicle resection surgery, performed via arthroscopy or small incision, removing 1-1.5 cm of the clavicle end to treat AC joint problems.
• Diagnostisch Onderzoek (Diagnostic Examination) Diagnostic services including ultrasound examination performed during every consultation, on-site X-ray imaging, and external referral coordination for MRI and CT when necessary.
• Second Opinion Second opinion consultation service where patients can obtain a reassessment of their shoulder diagnosis or treatment plan from the clinic's specialists. Requires referral from treating physician.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• InfomedicscoreOthersBilling partner that sends invoices on behalf of De Schouderdokter. Patients receive invoices from Infomedics and submit to their health insurer for reimbursement.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Spaarne Klinieken: Dutch independent clinic group offering multiple specialties including orthopedics. Comparable on independent-clinic operating model, DBC billing, and competition for the same GP/specialist referral base in the Dutch market.
• DC Klinieken: Dutch chain of independent specialist clinics (ZKN certified) covering multiple specialties including orthopedics. Highly comparable in operating model — independent clinic, DBC/insurer billing, GP-referred patients — making it a benchmark for clinic operations and unit economics in this segment.
• Bergman Clinics: One of the largest Dutch independent clinic groups with a significant orthopedic and musculoskeletal focus. Directly comparable on ZKN-certified independent clinic model, insurer contracting, and orthopedic surgical offerings, but at materially larger scale.
• Equipe Zorgbedrijven: Dutch orthopedic and sports medicine focused independent clinic group. Closely comparable on orthopedic specialty focus, surgical service mix, and independent-clinic operating model within the Dutch DBC/insurer system.
• Xpert Clinic: Dutch independent specialist clinic focused on hand and wrist surgery. Strong model peer — single-anatomy specialist clinic with surgeon-led IP, GP-referral model, and ZKN-style operations — illustrating the deep-specialty clinic archetype De Schouderdokter operates in.
• OCON Orthopedische Cliniek: Dutch independent orthopedic clinic offering a range of orthopedic surgical and conservative treatments. Comparable on specialty clinic positioning, orthopedic surgical depth, and reliance on GP/specialist referrals within the Dutch healthcare system.
• Annatommie: Dutch independent orthopedic specialist clinic chain operating under a similar ZKN-style model. Directly comparable as a same-country, same-specialty (orthopedics/MSK), same-payor system independent clinic competing for surgeon talent, patient referrals, and insurer contracts.

Broad incumbents

• Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS): Largest US specialty hospital focused exclusively on orthopedics and rheumatology. Comparable in the strategy of concentrating on a single musculoskeletal specialty to build clinical depth and brand, though HSS operates at hospital scale with research and academic affiliations.
• Steadman Clinic: US-based orthopedic and sports medicine specialty clinic recognized globally for deep sub-specialization and surgeon-led brand. Comparable in the archetype of a high-reputation, single-specialty orthopedic clinic, though operating at larger scale and in a different payor system.
• Mayo Clinic Orthopedics: Orthopedic service line of a leading US academic medical center. Comparable as a destination orthopedic specialty provider with multi-subspecialty depth, but operates at vastly larger scale, with inpatient hospital infrastructure De Schouderdokter does not have.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/de-schouderdokter

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about De Schouderdokter