The target market for an Allergy and Immunology practice is defined by patients with recurring or complex allergic, respiratory, and immune-related conditions that require specialist evaluation, testing, and long-term management. Demand is driven by symptom burden (e.g., chronic nasal congestion, wheezing, recurrent infections, rashes), referral patterns from primary care and other specialists, and the availability of in-office diagnostics and immunotherapy.

Primary patient segments (core revenue and recurring care)
1) Patients with allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis (seasonal/perennial): individuals seeking definitive diagnosis (skin testing/serology), trigger management, and prescription optimization.
2) Asthma patients with allergic triggers or difficult-to-control symptoms: patients needing specialty workups, step therapy refinement, biologic eligibility assessment, and coordination with pulmonology/primary care.
3) Food allergy and anaphylaxis risk: children and adults requiring evaluation, counseling, emergency action plans, and follow-up; includes families seeking clarity after reactions or positive screening tests.
4) Atopic dermatitis/eczema with suspected allergy contribution: patients needing integrated management plans and identification of relevant triggers in partnership with dermatology/pediatrics.
5) Chronic urticaria/angioedema: patients with persistent hives/swelling requiring guideline-based evaluation, stepwise medication plans, and monitoring for treatment response.

Secondary clinical segments (high complexity, referral-driven)
1) Drug allergy evaluations (e.g., antibiotic allergy labels): patients referred to confirm or remove allergy labels, improving future treatment options; often coordinated with primary care, urgent care, surgery, and dentistry.
2) Venom allergy: patients after insect-sting reactions who may be candidates for venom immunotherapy and long-term follow-up.
3) Chronic sinus symptoms with suspected allergic component: patients referred from ENT for co-management and identification of allergic drivers.
4) Immune deficiency evaluations: patients with recurrent infections or abnormal immune labs needing structured assessment, immunization response evaluation, and ongoing monitoring or infusion referral when appropriate.
5) Eosinophilic and other immune-mediated conditions (as within scope): selected patients referred for specialized assessment and care coordination with gastroenterology, pulmonology, or rheumatology.

Life-stage segments and decision-makers
Pediatrics: parents/guardians are the primary decision-makers; common entry points include eczema, food reactions, asthma, and recurrent infections. Scheduling convenience, education, and clear action plans are key.
Adolescents/young adults: transition of care, sports/exercise-induced symptoms, adherence challenges, and school/work accommodations.
Adults: chronic rhinitis, asthma, urticaria, drug allergy labels, and workplace exposures; value efficiency and measurable symptom improvement.
Older adults: polypharmacy and comorbidities increase the importance of careful medication selection, risk assessment, and coordination with other specialists.

Referral sources (often the fastest route to patient acquisition)
Primary care practices (family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics): ongoing stream of rhinitis/asthma/food allergy/eczema and diagnostic uncertainty cases.
ENT: chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal obstruction patients with allergic drivers; post-surgical and pre-surgical evaluations.
Pulmonology: asthma phenotype assessment, allergic triggers, and biologic co-management.
Dermatology: eczema and chronic urticaria referrals; medication alignment and shared plans.
Emergency departments/urgent care: post-anaphylaxis follow-up, recurrent hives/angioedema, acute asthma exacerbations.

Payor and access segments (impacts service mix and operations)
Commercially insured patients: often seek comprehensive testing and longer-term immunotherapy; expect online scheduling, minimal wait times, and clear estimates for uncovered services.
Medicaid/managed care: higher sensitivity to access, transportation, and appointment availability; operational success depends on efficient workflows and predictable prior authorization processes.
Medicare: common for asthma and chronic respiratory symptoms in older adults; requires strong documentation and coordinated care for comorbidities.
Self-pay/uninsured: typically focused on high-value evaluations and clear pricing; may prioritize limited-scope testing and stepwise treatment plans.

Geographic catchment and site-selection considerations
Most practices draw from a defined radius based on traffic patterns, specialist density, and patient willingness to travel for testing and immunotherapy. A founder should define the catchment by: proximity to primary care/pediatric clusters, access to major roads/public transit, availability of parking, and concentration of families and working adults. If immunotherapy is a key offering, the market should support frequent return visits and convenient appointment windows.

Patient needs that determine “best-fit” customers
Candidates for ongoing specialist care typically have: persistent symptoms despite standard therapy, unclear triggers, safety concerns (anaphylaxis risk), repeated utilization of urgent care/ED, multiple medication trials, or significant quality-of-life impact. Best-fit patients also value education and follow-up, making them more likely to adhere to treatment plans and return for monitoring.

Market positioning within the target segments
The practice should explicitly choose which segments to prioritize in year one (e.g., allergic rhinitis/asthma/food allergy plus drug allergy delabeling) and which to add as capacity and staff capabilities grow (e.g., immune deficiency workups). Clear prioritization helps align staffing, testing inventory, appointment templates, and referral outreach.