The Referral Process Overview

General Referral Information

Some internal FHT referrals are made using the PSS referral process and some FHT referrals
are created using the FHT Professionals Custom form.

The FHT has assigned key individuals who handle specific internal referrals.  These individuals
are messaged when creating a referral, and are listed in the address book.

All referrals are to be tracked using the PendingTests/Consults screen in PSS, including
referrals that require a clinic-specific form. In these situations, a PSS referral letter does not
need to be created as the letter will not be accepted by the clinic.  Be sure to include a note in the
Referral Tracking Tool.

If additional information in the PSS chart needs to be sent as part of the referral package,
you can message the secretary to include this information.

The PSS Referral Process

When a referral is created in PSS, three items are created:  A Referral Tracking Tool,
a letter to the referring physician, and a message for admin staff (to alert them of the new referral).

The Referral Tracking Tool allows you to track:

·         If patient is waiting for the appointment

·         If the patient has been contacted with appointment

·         if the referral is complete

The Referral Workflow in the Family Health Centre

The following steps outline the roles of all individuals in a typical referral:

1.    Creating the Referral

Staff Physician – Sets up the Referring Tracking Tool, completes the referral letter
and sends a message to the POD secretary for processing.

Resident – Follows the same steps as a staff physician.  The referral must be reviewed
by the staff physician prior to the POD secretary completing the referral. 

2.    Managing the Referral:

·        The Pod Secretary completes the referral by attaching documents and sending
out to the consultant. 

·        The POD secretary updates the status, as appropriate, of the referral. 

3.    Post Completion of the Referral

·        The font of the referral, in the Referral Tracking Tool, changes from green to black
in the patients chart, once the referral is complete. 

·        Post Consultation, the Health Records department will post the consultant report into PSS.  
Reports are easily identified by a blue paper clip. A message is sent to the physician, once
the report has been posted in the chart.

4.    Consultant Report Review:  The physician reviews the consultant letter and follows up
with the patient.