Strategies for Managing Relationships with Referring Practices

September 21, 2012 | Strategic Insights for Ambulatory Care

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Having standardized procedures in place to manage the working relationship with organizations that refer patients to a physician practice can provide opportunities for improved patient care and increased revenue while identifying areas in need of improvement, states a September 12, 2012, blog post published in the Medical Group Management Association’s (MGMA) In Practice blog. It is essential to establish—and adhere to—clear boundaries regarding treatment responsibilities. Practices should avoid offering additional care or secondary referrals beyond those outlined in the referral letter because it can be confusing to patients and could cause miscommunication and delays in care. Physician practices can streamline the referral process by providing referring practices with a checklist of items the practice needs before the referred patient’s appointment, such as medical history, current medications, pathology slides, blood work reports, and insurance authorization.

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