Health Ministry issues interdepartmental referral guidelines for hospitals

Citing significant inconsistencies and lack of accountability in the referral process, the Union Health Ministry has for the first time issued interdepartmental referral guidelines for hospitals to facilitate better communication and cooperation.

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• CITING SIGNIFICANT INCONSISTENCIES

The ‘Guidelines for InterDepartmental Referral’ (within hospitals) stress that referrals should be initiated promptly as and when patients require specialised care, diagnostic evaluations, or consultations beyond the scope of admitting department.

The referral for a consultant’s opinion should only be written by consultants and that post graduate residents should not close referrals on their own without discussing with their consultants, the guidelines released on June 7 stated.

Consultant on call should review the referral record attended to by his team the previous day, a step which will help improve patient care and enhance learning of residents.