Electronic Referrals
South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) is partnering with eHealth, the Ministry of Health and Specialty Health Networks (SHN’s) to expand the Engage Outpatient program to outpatient services across SESLHD.
There are two solutions in the Engage Outpatients program:
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electronic Referral Management System (eRMS). This is a hospital-based system for receiving and managing referrals.
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Electronic Referrals (eReferrals). These are electronic SmartForms that can be sent directly to the eRMS from referrer practice systems or MyHealthLink Portal. An eReferral is an electronic document that can be sent securely, replacing other methods such as faxing or posting paper referrals.
These solutions enable referrals to be sent, received and managed electronically. Referrers and patients will also receive notification of referral outcomes.
The below outpatient services are now processing all referrals through the electronic Referral Management System. The preferred referral method for these services is electronic referral.
The preferred referral method for these services is electronic referral.
Centralised Outpatients
| Aged Care | Infectious Diseases |
| Cardiology | Neurosurgery |
| Cognitive Disorders | Neurovascular |
| Dermatology | Orthopaedics, |
| Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) | Pain Medicine |
| Endocrinology | Palliative and Supportive Care |
| Fracture | Plastics |
| Gastroenterology | Prescription and Opioid Management |
| General Surgery | Rheumatology |
| Immunology |
Other Prince of Wales Hospital Services
| Community Palliative Care Team | Physiotherapy |
| Diabetes Centre | Respiratory. |
| General Rehabilitation | Spinal medicine |
| Nutrition and Dietetics | Rapid Access Cardiac Clinic |
Coming mid-2025: Ophthalmology
| Antenatal | Gynae Oncology- Colposcopy |
| Fertility | Menopause Hub |
| Gynaecology |
Centralised Outpatients
| Diabetes | Infectious Diseases |
| Dermatology | Neurology |
| Endocrinology, | Rehabilitation |
| Gynaecology | Respiratory |
Coming mid-2025: Ophthalmology
| Aged Care | Immunology |
| Antibiotic Allergy Clinic | Infectious Diseases |
| Anticoagulant Clinic | Inflammatory Bowel Disease Support clinic |
| Cardiology | Kogarah Eye Clinic (Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital Satellite Service) |
| Colorectal | Metabolic Disorders |
| Day Infusion and Medical Centre (formerly Ambulatory Care) | Neurology |
| Dermatology | Respiratory |
| Diabetes | Sleep Disorders |
| Direct Access Colonoscopy Clinic | Swallow Clinic |
| Drug and Alcohol | Tuberculosis Chest Clinic |
| Endocrinology | Vascular |
| Gastroenterology | Wound Clinic |
| Haematology | Young Adults Diabetes Service TrYADs OP clinic |
| Tuberculosis Chest Clinic | Neurology EMG |
| Hand Unit | Ophthalmology |
| Kogarah Eye Clinic (Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital Satellite Service) |
Sending an eReferral instead of a paper or faxed referral has multiple benefits for referrers.
- Integrated with practice software (Best Practice Premier, Medical Director Clinical, Genie, Zedmed, Shexie Platinum and Medtech Evolution)
- Multiple fields will be pre-populated with patient information
- Clinical information software can be easily attached
- Referrals sent Quickly and securely
- Completed eReferrals are saved against the patient record in your practice software
- eReferrals can also be sent from the MyHealthLink Portal
- Notification via secure messaging of referral receipt, outcome and triage category.
- Notification to referrers will only occur when an eReferral is used.
- Clear transparency regarding the current list of offered services and clinicians
- Faster processing and triage of referrals
- Two-way communication between referrers and hospital services enables additional information to be provided more efficiently and in a timely manner.
- Improved clinical information will assist referral processing and triage
Electronic referrals and the Electronic Referral Management System (eRMS) increase efficiency and enhance communication with patients and referrers.
- Save time on paperwork
- Faxes digitised into PDF
- All referral information in one electronic system
- Reduced manual data entry. Referral fields in the eRMS are auto-populated when eReferrals are used
- Improve quality of referral information
- Fewer incomplete referrals due to mandatory fields on eReferrals
- Ability to place referral on hold and secure message referrer to request missing or additional information
- Patients receive notification of referral receipt, outcome and triage category
- Reduce lost, misdirected and duplicate referrals
- Potential duplicate referrals flagged and managed electronically
- Ability to redirect or reassign referral to a different service
- Faster processing and triage of referrals
- Referral management and triage can occur anywhere, any time (access via URL/ Stafflink)
- Improve resource management and outpatient service planning
eHealth are partnering with HealthLink to develop an eReferral solution.
These Smartforms will integrate with GP practice systems to streamline the completion and submission of electronic referrals. There is no charge for use of eReferrals.
SmartForms can be launched directly from practice management software.
HealthLink eReferrals are integrated with multiple software programs, including Medical Director, Best Practice, Genie, Medtech Evolution, Shexie Platinum and Zedmed.
Referrers who do not have access to these systems can access SmartForms via the HealthLink Portal. A HealthLink account is required.
User Guides for accessing and completing eReferrals
Best Practice: https://vimeo.com/clanwilliamhealth/healthlink-smartforms-bestpractice
Medical Director: https://vimeo.com/clanwilliamhealth/healthlink-smartforms-medicaldirector
Genie: https://vimeo.com/clanwilliamhealth/healthlink-smartforms-genie
MyHealthLink Portal: https://vimeo.com/clanwilliamhealth/healthlink-smartforms-myhealthlink
HealthLink Portal: MyHealthLink Portal - HealthLink
