How can you ensure physicians know your organization's referral policies?

2 Provide training and resources

Another step to ensure physicians know your organization's referral policies is to provide training and resources for them and their teams. You can offer orientation sessions, workshops, webinars, or online modules to educate physicians on the referral policies, criteria, protocols, and tools. You can also create and distribute manuals, guides, checklists, or templates to help physicians and staff apply the referral policies in their daily practice. You can make these resources easily accessible and updated through your intranet, website, or mobile app.

3 Monitor and measure compliance

A third step to ensure physicians know your organization's referral policies is to monitor and measure their compliance with them. You can use data from your electronic health records, referral management system, or surveys to track and analyze how physicians are following the referral policies. You can also use feedback from patients, other providers, or payers to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the referral process. You can share the results with physicians and staff regularly and use them to identify gaps, challenges, or opportunities for improvement.

4 Recognize and reward adherence

A fourth step to ensure physicians know your organization's referral policies is to recognize and reward their adherence to them. You can use positive reinforcement, incentives, or recognition programs to acknowledge and appreciate physicians who follow the referral policies consistently and accurately. You can also use peer-to-peer learning, mentoring, or coaching to encourage and support physicians who need more guidance or assistance with the referral policies. You can also celebrate and showcase the successes and best practices of your organization and physicians in referral and coordination.

5 Solicit and address feedback

A fifth step to ensure physicians know your organization's referral policies is to solicit and address their feedback on them. You can create and maintain channels for physicians to share their opinions, suggestions, or concerns about the referral policies and process. You can also involve physicians in the development, review, or revision of the referral policies and procedures. You can also respond to their feedback promptly and transparently and explain how you are using it to improve the referral policies and process.

6 Align with goals and values

A sixth step to ensure physicians know your organization's referral policies is to align them with your organization's goals and values. You can demonstrate how referral policies are consistent with your organization's mission, vision, and culture. You can also show how referral policies support your organization's strategic objectives, performance indicators, or accreditation standards. You can also emphasize how referral policies reflect your organization's commitment to patient-centered, collaborative, and high-quality care.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?