Referrals

Policy

Referrals to other primary or secondary care providers are sent via e-referrals or by contacting the provider directly. Clinicians document all information related to the referral, including any direct conversations with other medical officers or specialists, in the patient record.

All clinically significant and urgent referrals are tracked to ensure the patient's care has been transferred to another provider. The referring clinician is responsible for setting a task in the PMS to track the referral and managing all resulting correspondence.

Clinical referrals include all necessary patient and clinical information in enough detail to describe the patient's current situation and to meet both best practice and our legal obligations.

The referrer should consider whether patients who fail to attend a referral appointment need follow-up. For example, if they are vulnerable, likely to deteriorate, or have other indications.

Patients can request a referral to a private specialist at their own cost.

See also Results and Clinical Correspondence, Care Plans, and Results Management Procedure.

Making referrals

Referrals for acute admission or assessment

For acute referrals, phone and speak directly to the receiving medical officer or specialist. Send a copy of the referral letter addressed to the receiving medical officer with all hospital urgent referral patients via e-referrals or by contacting the provider directly.

Referrals to other public health services

Some patients require referrals that cannot be sent electronically, e.g. social and community services. Clinicians provide initial referrals for these patients to help connect them to the service they require and ensure they receive integrated care to improve their overall health and well-being.

Referrals for urgent assessment

Send the urgent referral to specialist service. Check to see if ERMS requests that the clinician contacts the service to discuss. Set a reminder in Medtech to check.