The receiving physician's first minute is often spent asking "why was this patient sent to me?". A short but complete referral note saves time and spares the patient repeated tests.
Core items
The reason for referral and the question to be answered; relevant history and current diagnoses; medications and allergies; results and dates of tests already done; urgency; the referring physician's contact details.
Closing the loop
A referral does not end when the patient arrives. Sending the receiving physician's assessment back to the referrer keeps care continuous and builds trust between colleagues.
Proportion in data sharing
Health data is a special category of personal data. Share only what the referral needs, and do not leave it scattered in personal messaging apps.
How HeliaLoop handles it
In HeliaLoop a referral is created and tracked as its own record, and both physicians can see which step it is at. This article is general information, not clinical or legal advice.