Humboldt County Referral Survey Results
During the months of October/November 2014 the IPA surveyed primary care providers (PCPs), specialists, office managers and referral coordinators regarding the referral process in Humboldt County. The survey consisted of 12 questions covering four areas: transitions of care, access, collaborative care management and patient communication. 52 people responded to the surveys: 26 clinicians (13 Primary Care &13 Specialty)12 Office Managers and 14 Referral Coordinators. The results revealed some striking differences in how primary care and specialty care clinicians perceive the referral process. It also showed us that within the primary care and specialty care offices clinicians, office managers and referral coordinators often have quite different views on how well the process works.
Below are some highlights of the survey results:
- “PCP always sends information to the specialists before the visit”
85% of PCPs strongly agree
8% of Specialists strongly agree - “The Specialist always sends a visit summary to the PCP”
15% of PCPs strongly agree
69% of Specialists strongly agree - “The Specialist includes what the PCP should do in their visit summary”
23% of PCPs say yes
77% of Specialists say yes - “My patients are seen by specialists within a time period that meets my needs and those of my patients.”
54% PCPs said “rarely”
30% of PCP referral coordinators said “rarely”
100% of PCP office managers said “sometimes”
