In plain English
This term names the healthcare professional responsible for sending a patient on for additional care. They are the one who directs the patient to another provider, facility, or service for assessment, treatment, or other care.
In context
Here, it labels the provider who is sending the patient to another provider, facility, or service for evaluation, treatment, or other care.
- Situation
- Booking appointments, checking in, joining waitlists, and handling referrals
- What it communicates
- labels the provider who is sending the patient
Meaning limits
The term alone does not show whether the receiving provider, facility, or service will accept the patient or what care will happen next.
Examples
“The referring provider sent the child to a neurologist for further evaluation.”
“Before the appointment, the clinic asked the referring provider for the patient's recent test results.”