A recent study by athenahealth and Halley Consulting Group showed that about one quarter of primary care patients are being referred to specialists and detailed the most referred-to specialties.
Family practice providers and internal medicine providers are referring at rates of 25 and 29 percent, respectively, according to the study. For each of those providers, 11 percent of the referrals were consults.
Here are the top five referred-to specialties by family practitioners for consults:
• Gastroenterology: 1.6 percent per-visit referral rate
• Physical Therapy: 1.4 percent
• Orthopedic Surgery: .9 percent
• Podiatry: .7 percent
• Dermatology: .7 percent
7 Tips for Hospitals to Foster Trust Among Physicians
Building a Competitive Model for Market Share and Primary Care: Q&A With Marc Halley
Family practice providers and internal medicine providers are referring at rates of 25 and 29 percent, respectively, according to the study. For each of those providers, 11 percent of the referrals were consults.
Here are the top five referred-to specialties by family practitioners for consults:
• Gastroenterology: 1.6 percent per-visit referral rate
• Physical Therapy: 1.4 percent
• Orthopedic Surgery: .9 percent
• Podiatry: .7 percent
• Dermatology: .7 percent
More Articles on Primary Care Physicians:
Survey: Physician-Patient Relationship More Important Than Treatment in Patient Satisfaction7 Tips for Hospitals to Foster Trust Among Physicians
Building a Competitive Model for Market Share and Primary Care: Q&A With Marc Halley