Internal, inter-team referrals: Right care, right time

To enhance patient care, our PCN has introduced formalized inter-team referral processes so our regulated health professionals can directly refer to many of our programs.

Physicians engaged through focus groups were supportive of our teams making internal referrals and helped shape the processes:

• Communication back to the patient’s physician is critical and built into the process.
• Due to the complexity of the patient population, the referral process to Senior Services will not change.
• Our teams will offer a patient a referral when they see a need, taking some administrative work off the patient’s physician, but will not create feelings of pressure or expectation.

You will receive notice in the consult note to you from our regulated health professional if they refer your patient that will clearly state:

• The name of the appropriate internal program to which the referral was sent
• No action is required from you

You will then receive updates from that program as normal.

All our clinicians can refer to our Social Workers, Mental Health Program, Dietitian Program, and Physiotherapy Program.

Only our Primary Care Registered Nurses and RNs with Senior Services can refer to our Access Appointment Service.

Please continue to refer your patients to our programs. Our projected inter-team referral volume is low, and you know your patients the best to make referrals.

Thank you to everyone who helped us create a more integrated, streamlined care experience for patients.