Referral Process Improvement: A Study of the Efficiency and Tracking Processes for In-house Referrals at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital

摘要

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the referral process from primary care managers (PCMs) to specialists at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH). Specifically, the study revealed key elements of an ideal referral process from the literature review and compared those elements with the referral process at BACH. Indicators were then developed to determine the efficiency of BACH s referral process. Statistical significance was found to exist in both the developed benchmarks (n = 1885) of each indicator at the 95% confidence interval. Finally, recommendations for improving the referral process were made based on the detailed systems and data analyses conducted. These recommendations focused on PCMs management of their impaneled patients and the referral process itself.