title: What is a referral?
abstract: Obtaining a referral from a primary care physician to see a specialist is a common experience among patients. Differing definitions of what it means to "have a referral, "however, can lead to gaps between the service provided by the specialist and the expectations of the patients. Empirical research illustrates these varying definitions of "having a referral" among potential patients. The extent of confusion among a presumably educated sample of the patient population suggests that medical group managers should conduct a marketing audit of their policies and procedures to ensure that gaps in service delivery are removed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Administration, College of Health Professions, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA. summers@txstate.edu
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Summers
mesh_terms: D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D032882:Comprehension; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008511:Medicine; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000145:classification*; D013038:Specialization; D014481:United States