The Referral Study

This study was designed to address three broad research questions:

1. How do pediatric practitioners refer patients?

2. Which factors explain high and low referral rates?

3. How do patients and practitioners evaluate the referral process three months after the decision to refer was made?

Aims

The specific objectives of this study were:

To characterize referral patterns by practitioners, selected diagnoses, and locus of the referral (i.e., those made during phone call versus those made during office visits) and determine how referrals are coordinated.

To understand why practitioners refer patients and to identify determinants of specific reasons for referral.

To estimate the potential influence on referral rates practitoner characteristics -- such as expertise and tolerance of uncertainty -- and different payment mechanisms (i.e., gatekeeping versus non-gatekeeping health plans).

To assess outcomes of the referral process from the perspective of consumers and practitioners.