referral (redirected from refer)

referral,

n the recommendation of another health professional to a patient for a specified reason.

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referral

the professional etiquette by which a primary accession clinican refers a case to a specialist for further diagnosis and treatment. The case passes out of the care of the first veterinarian for the time being. It is usually returned to him/her when the specialist has concluded with the problem at hand. See also consultation (2).

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referral

Managed care A formal process that authorizes an HMO member to get care from a specialist or hospital; most HMOs require Pts to get a referral from their primary care doctor before seeing a specialist Medical practice 1. A Pt who has been sent–referred–for a 2^nd opinion or therapy to a specialist or subspecialist with greater expertise, as the Pt has a disease or condition that the primary or referring physician cannot, or does not wish to, treat. Cf Second opinion 2. The sending of a Pt to another physician for ongoing management of a specific problem, with the expectation that the Pt will continue seeing the original physician for coordination of total care. See Negligent referral, Self-referral. Cf Consultation.