01

Frame the opportunity

Specify the geography, service line, organization, decision owner, investment horizon, and evidence required to advance.

02

Measure supply and structure

Review facilities, clinicians, systems, affiliations, concentration, and service capability without double-counting connected entities.

03

Layer area-level need

Use population and need indicators as geographic context, not as individual risk or causal proof of demand.

04

Add commercial evidence carefully

Rate observations, payer presence, employer indicators, and utilization can sharpen a hypothesis but remain bounded by their sources.

05

Define a validation path

Turn the opportunity into a market scan, diligence list, pilot, or decision brief with explicit exit criteria.

See the method in context

Apply this framework to the illustrative Northeast Ohio orthopedic decision.