Creating and sending referral letters

After you initiate a referral, you can create a referral letter directly from the New Referral window. You can create a referral letter using one of the following methods:

Basic Referral: You type the text of the letter and then print. You can include medical summary information in the letter (select the Use Medical Hx check box in the referral), but you cannot customize the content. You cannot attach documents to the letter. See Creating a basic referral letter.

Referral Letter Composer: You can add specific information from the patient’s medical summary and to attach documents to the referral letter. See Creating a referral letter using the Referral Letter Composer.

SMART form-based referral letter: You can include a full medical profile and customize the referral letter. You can also format the referral letter using Microsoft Word formatting tools. You cannot attach other files or documents to a SMART form-based consult letter as you can when using the Referral Letter Composer. See Creating referral letters using a SMART form.

After you create a referral letter you can print the referral or fax the letter to the specialist. If you and the recipient are set up for eReferral, you can also send it electronically.

Note: Referrals received by specialists have an expiration of six months. If the patient needs to be seen by a specialist after six months, you must send another referral letter.