Transplant Referrals Getting Out of Hand?

Here are five things to look for when considering a referral and communication solution for your center.

Transplant centers are being inundated with referrals now that dialysis organizations and nephrology practices are motivated to get more patients into transplant. As these demands increase, new referral tools are being introduced onto the market.  Before you commit to a new solution, here are a few things you should consider:

  1. Can the new solution integrate into your current EMR?
    Let’s face it, logging into another system to input information already in your EMR is not going to save you any time. Any referral management solution needs to be seamless and integrated into your current EMR (Cerner®, Epic Phoenix®, etc.). An integrated system will not only save you time, but it will also reduce errors, help you maintain a single source of truth, and keep your internal workflows smooth.
  2. Does the solution enable you to keep your referring providers informed — without adding additional burdens on your staff?
    Communication is key with your referring providers. Make sure your solution has the capabilities to automatically notify your providers about changes to their patients’ current status, upcoming appointments or tests. This type of real-time communication not only strengthens your relationship with your referring providers, but it also facilitates the kind of care collaboration needed to give patients the best chance of getting on a waitlist.
  3. Does the solution offer insights into the quality and frequency of your referrals?
    Having a referral solution that gives you population reports and insights by referring provider will help your centers better tune your relationship. A high number of referrals that don’t result in successful waitlisting could lead you to fruitful conversations with your referrers about your selection criteria. This will save them frustration, and help you manage the number of inappropriate referrals.
  4. Does the solution offer tools to engage and update patients?
    Patient engagement is increasingly important.  Verify that the solution includes an application specifically designed for patients!  TxAccess™ integrates with a free mobile patient app, so patients also know where they are in the waitlisting process. The app is automatically updated, so patients and providers all share the most current information from the transplant center.
  5. Does the tool enable successful hand-off back to the community provider when the time comes?
    It’s wonderful when a transplant goes well and you are comfortable handing back the patient to their community provider. Make sure your solution enables smooth and hassle-free collaboration during hand-off. A solution that enables better continuity of care, especially when you plan to jointly care for patients’ post-transplant, will not only be good for you, your providers, but also for the patient.

 

If you are looking for a referral management and communication solution that does all the above and more, check out TxAccess.