Referrals
The Australian National Digital Health Strategy aims to eliminate clinicians’ dependence on all paper-based messaging.
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There is already an established use of a wide range of secure messaging systems in Australia.
For example, an e-referral is an electronic document that can be sent electronically from one healthcare service to another, as opposed to the current process of faxing or posting the referral.
At no cost to the general practitioners or general practices, GPs can send e-referrals through HealthLink SmartForms. HealthLink SmartForms includes a direct link to HealthPathways Melbourne which is up-to-date with statewide referral criteria.
The Department of Health has developed statewide referral criteria to assist GPs and clinicians with referring patients to specialist clinics. These referral criteria have been developed to improve access to specialist clinics in public hospitals by improving the quality and appropriateness of referrals.
GPs can refer to specialists clinics at Eastern Health, Austin Health, Monash Health, Northern Health, and Mercy Health. Instructions and templates can be found below.
Please contact your practice software vendor for updated information about their ability to support eReferrals and secure messaging delivery (SMD), if they are not listed above.
e-Referral solutions
HealthLink SmartForms
HealthLink SmartForms e-Referral solution is integrated within Medical Director, Best Practice, Medtech Evolution and Genie and will streamline the completion and submission of electronic referrals.
From your software programs, GPs will be able to select a form, have it pre-populated automatically with data from the electronic patient record, have it validated and sent securely to the intended recipient, and receive an acknowledgement of receipt without the need to print and fax, though printing is an option if you prefer. A copy of the form will automatically be stored securely in the patient’s record.
See what forms are available to you with Best Practice.
Technical criteria includes use of the following internet browsers: Internet Explorer 9, 10 or 11; Chrome or Edge. This project doesn’t support Firefox or Safari browsers.
My Aged Care e-Referrals
Tutorial videos on My Aged Care e-Referrals are now available.
Visit the HealthLink website to watch your Clinical Information System tutorial video to see how easy it is to complete a My Aged Care e-Referral.
Resources and starter guides
HealthLink SmartForms quick start guide for Medical Director
HealthLink SmartForms quick start guide for Best Practice
HealthLink SmartForms quick start guide for Genie
HealthLink SmartForms quick start guide for Medtech
Monash Health e-Referrals instructions and templates
Eastern Health e-Referrals instructions and templates
Mercy Health e-Referrals instructions and templates
Northern Health e-Referrals instructions and templates
Austin Health e-Referrals instructions and templates
Specialists and referrals
SR Specialists and Referrals is a free service that sees the Medical Specialists Directory available online and integrated within HealthLink’s software so GPs can seamlessly search, select and e-Refer to any private specialist in the directory.
The trusted directory is used by most GPs to search for private specialists and will still be available in hard copy to give GPs a choice of how they would like to view it.
The service is available to GPs using Medical Director, Best Practice and Genie via HealthLink. Similarly, specialists can receive the e-Referrals via their HealthLink account.
For more detailed information, see the SR Specialists and Referrals website. Please email sr-support@specialistsreferrals.com.au if you know of any specialist practice that may benefit from more training and we will contact them and provide further assistance.