Archives for April 3, 2023

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Referral Process Change Alert!

We have an URGENT Referral Process Change Alert for you today.

CHI St-Joesph’s notified us unexpectedly that they will no longer be assisting us with our referrals.  Moving forward, Leadership and the Referral Coordinators worked urgently to take on the additional referrals starting ARPIL 3rd, 2023. 

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What does this mean?

PROVIDERS:

• Please ensure the referral is appropriate. (Patient having a headache that day vs referral to neurology.)
• Criteria for referrals are done prior to sending out referral (i.e. required imaging, bloodwork, or test.)
• Please be sure that the patients are aware of the referral and have been communicated with any critical labs or results before the referral is placed. (Notify patients that they had an abnormal result before a referral is placed. That way, referral coordinators are not trying to explain why they are being referred to rad/onc.)

FRONT DESK:

• Please ensure that up-to-date information is in the patient’s chart:

• • Address, phone number, current insurance card (with correct PCP)- This creates a HUGE delay in a patient’s referral being processed timely.
  • Any minors have the correct guardian information, and the minor consent form is filled out.

MEDICAL ASSISTANTS

• Referral Types

• • STAT REFERRALS- will continue to be processed by the PCP team.

• • • STAT Referrals are referrals that need to be scheduled for the next day or the same week.  PCP must reach out to the provider to get the patient seen that week.

• • URGENT REFERRALS- will be processed by referral coordinators
    • Referrals Coordinators will be given 24-72 hours to make initial contact with the patient.
    • The expectation is patient will be scheduled within 2-4 weeks.

• • ROUTINE REFERRALS-
    • Referrals Coordinators will be given up to 7 days to make initial contact with the patient.
    • The expectation is the patient will be scheduled for the next available appointment with a specialist (anywhere from 4 weeks to 6 months)

• Telephone Encounters

• • If a patient is calling about their referral, please check the patient’s chart.

• • • Patients wondering if their referral has been sent- CHECK FAX LOG FIRST
    • Check for telephone encounters regarding referrals before transferring patients to referral coordinators. Most information in telephone encounters is up to date.

Director of Nursing Amanda Dominguez added:

TEAM….thank you for helping us help our referral coordinators as they take on this HUGE undertaking.  They are amazing and work hard to care for our patients. So please give patience and grace during this transition.

We are Here to Help!

For any questions or concerns, please contact Amanda Dominguez adominguez@healthpoint-tx.com.

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