How to refer
Instruction
In this topic you will learn how to refer a person to an eye health professional or another service. You will also learn why it is important to track the referrals you make.
Making a referral
There are four steps to making a referral:
- Discuss the referral with the person and their caregiver where appropriate
- Complete the Primary eye care (PEC) Referral form
- Complete the Primary eye care (PEC) Follow up referral list
- Record on the PEC Screen form.
Instruction
If you haven’t done so already, download and print:
Müzakirə
What local health services, including eye health services, might you refer people to?
What are the benefits of being in contact with local health services?
Discuss with your colleagues.
Discuss referral
Şəxsə izah edin:
- Reason they need to be referred and why it is important
- Whether the referral is urgent or not
- Risks of not going to the eye health professional
- If possible, location and cost of seeing the eye health professional.
Ask the person if they have any questions.
Complete referral form
Use the PEC Referral form to make referrals.
- At the top of the form write the date, referral location (service you are referring to), and whether the referral is urgent or not
- Complete the form by copying relevant information from the person’s PEC Screen form
- In the final box there is space to write extra information about your reason for referral
- Ensure you include your name and contact details in the space at the bottom of the form. This will allow the service to contact you if they need more information
- Give the referral form to the person and explain how they should make an appointment with the eye health professional or other service.
Fəaliyyət
Rəşidi xatırlayırsınız?
Rashid is 47 years old. At his primary eye care screen, he:
- Passed the distance vision screen
- Did not pass the near vision screen
Rashid needs near vision spectacles. The health worker does not have any available, so they refer Rashid to an eye health professional who can provide him with near vision spectacles.
Practice completing the PEC Referral form – vision screen and reason for referral sections for Rashid.
PENDING ANSWER
Complete follow up referral list
The PEC Follow up referral list is used to keep track of people who have been referred to an eye health professional or another service.
The form includes:
- Person’s details
- Reason they were referred to another service
- Date and urgency of the referral
- Location they were referred to
- Date you plan to follow up to check whether they have attended their referral appointment
- Any relevant notes.
People may not attend the service they have been referred to. When this happens, the consequences can be serious. It is important to:
- Track attendance at referral appointments
- Communicate with the person to encourage them
- Help them find ways to attend appointments if they are finding it difficult.
Müzakirə
Why do you think it can be difficult for people to attend referral appointments?
Discuss with your colleagues.
- Limited access to transportation
- Misunderstandings about instructions
- Mistrust of services
- Limited time due to work or family commitments
- Potential costs.
Record on PEC Screen form
Record in the Action taken section of the PEC Screen form.
Ensure you write the reason for referral, and where the person has been referred to.
Before the person leaves your appointment, explain that they should return anytime if they have further concerns about their vision or eye health.