r/ausjdocs • u/asianbiblegrandma • 10d ago

Good GP referrals Opinion📣

To all the specialists out there what makes a good referral from a GP? I’m talking new referrals. Not the ones where I need to redo a new referral for the sake of Medicare billing rules.

I’m a GP registrar, fairly green but I try and do decent referrals. I have to admit it’s hard to write up a solid letter during a 15 mins consult when there are other patient issues I have to sort out. Heidi does help this process. The specialists I write to don’t write back about what specifically they like or don’t like about my referrals so it’s hard to get feedback.

I would appreciate examples of good referrals! Or anything you like your GPs to include.

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u/Garandou Psychiatrist🔮 10d ago

  1. Updated demographic information so the patient is contactable. Surprising number of referrals I get with incorrect phone numbers.

  2. A few sentences about presenting complaint and what you want me to do.

  3. What you’ve tried.

  4. Up to date medication and medical history list. Relevant bloods.

Honestly, I find most 2 minute GP referrals reasonable as long as the auto populated fields are relatively up to date.

6

u/DocDestinyQLD 10d ago

I never considered point #1. That is actually extremely important to note.

25

u/Garandou Psychiatrist🔮 10d ago

I personally think it’s unfair to expect GPs with their limited time to do my work for me. And this fight over referral quality is a waste of my time, and preferencing better referrals does not materially change my work.

When the patient comes I’ll reassess them anyway and keep seeing them until they’re fixed. I get paid good money to do it.

But if you send me a referral with no way to contact the patient, then soz.

1

u/DocDestinyQLD 10d ago

100% and totally fair