TYPES and CHARACTSTICS OF REFERRAL IN OMRANYA FAMILY HEALTH CENTER IN GIZA-EGYPT

Abstract

Referral is defined operationally as the process in which a treating physician, who has inadequate skills by virtue of qualifications and/or facilities to manage a clinical condition, seeks the assistance of a better equipped and/or specially trained person to guide the management of, or to take over, a particular episode of a clinical condition. (Bossyns P and Van L , 2004). There are several types referral such as interval referral in which the patient is referred for complete care for a limited period . The referring physician has no responsibilities during this period. This occurs in referral for major surgery or major medical treatment ,collateral referral the referring physician retains the overall responsibility , but refers the patient for the care of a specific problem as in Referral for treatment of glaucoma, cross referencing the patient is advised to see another physician and the referring physician has no further responsibility for the patient care . This may occur by the patient and called self referral, split referral this happen when multi-specialist practice is needed where the responsibility is divided between two or more physicians; one care for diabetes and another for ischemic heart disease. In this type of care nobody knows who has the overall responsibility for the patient. (El-awady, 2010). The primary care physician is responsible for coordinating his/her patients’ health care, if it is necessary for the patient to see a specialist, other than for direct-access services or emergency care, the primary care physician must request a referral prior to the patient’s visit to the specialist. The referral must be for covered benefits under the plan. (El-awady, 2010). Approximately 5.2% of patients were referred in omranya family medicine center to Om Masreen hospital , most subjects were referred to pediatric 76.6%, surgical, obstetrics/gynecological and internal medicine departments. Referrals to the pediatric department were mostly due to chest infections 31.3%, while internal medicine department referrals were mainly to endocrinology units.4.4%of referral letters is complete and 84% of referral for management plan.