Referral (medicine) explained

In medicine, referral is the transfer of care for a patient from one clinician or clinic to another by request.^{[1] [2]}

Tertiary care is usually done by referral from primary or secondary medical care personnel.

In the field of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), referral also means the informing of a partner of a patient diagnosed STD of the potential exposure. Patient referral is where patients directly inform their partners of their exposure to infection. An alternative is provider referral, where trained health department personnel locate partners on the basis ofthe names, descriptions, and addresses provided by the patient to inform the partner.^[3]

See also

• Classification of Pharmaco-Therapeutic Referrals (CPR)
• General practice
• Family medicine
• Family practice
• Primary care
• International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2)
• ICPC-2 PLUS
  • Classification of Pharmaco-Therapeutic Referrals Walk-in clinic
• GP Liaison

Notes and References

1. García Olmos L, Gervas Camacho J, Otero A, Pérez Fernández M. La demanda derivada: un estudio de la relación entre médico generales y especialistas. Rev San Hig Púb. 1994; 68(2):267-78.
2. Albasri. Ali. Prinjha. Suman. McManus. Richard J.. Sheppard. James P.. 2018-08-01. Hypertension referrals from community pharmacy to general practice: multivariate logistic regression analysis of 131 419 patients. Br J Gen Pract. en. 68. 673. e541–e550. 10.3399/bjgp18X697925. 0960-1643. 6058643. 29970396.
3. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5511a1.htm Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2006