title: Criteria for a good referral system for psychiatric patients: the view from Saudi Arabia.
abstract: The development and implementation of quality referral systems reflects sound national health planning. This review appraised the data on referral systems, in particular psychiatric referrals, with special reference to Saudi Arabia. A computer search was made of relevant literature in the past 2 decades. The rate and process of referring patients through referral letters varies globally across practice settings and is initiated by an array of factors linked with health consumers, health providers and delivery systems. Referral systems, including consultation-liaison services, are an essential component of any health care organization for offering a complete range of good quality, specialized health services.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Administration for Mental Health and Social Services, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. qureshinaseem@live.com
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: van der Molen
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Al-Habeeb
authors.forename: M E M
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Magzoub
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018579:Patient Selection; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012529:Saudi Arabia