While Pathways has always been used as a tool to inform decisions about patient referrals, the addition of the Referral Tracker to Pathways will now allow physicians and their staff to send and track referrals as well!  

Features include:

• A collaborative dashboard (accessible through your existing Pathways account) where both GPs and specialists can track patient referral status (ie. sent, received, patient wait listed or booked).
• The ability to use your existing office workflow to send a referral letter and accompanying documentation to the specialist clinic.
• Secure messaging between GP and specialist offices through the dashboard.
• Automated electronic patient notifications sent by email or text, including patient instructions.

Benefits to physicians

• GP offices know exactly when a specialist has accepted, waitlisted, or booked a patient. 
• Electronic patient notifications significantly reduce MOA workload and improve communication with patients.
• Reduction in no-shows because appointment reminders are sent to patient 1 week and 48 hours before the appointment, plus GPs no longer feel pressured to make multiple referrals for a single patient.
• Each step of the referral is easily viewable in real time within the referral tracker dashboard and an audit trail is provided.
• Communications between GP and specialist offices are streamlined significantly, improving collegiality.

Benefits to patients

• Patients actually know where they are in the referral process without needing to call the GP or specialist office to find out.
• Patients receive electronic notifications that contain a link to confirm the appointment and that contain pertinent instructions.
• Notifications are sent to patients upon being waitlisted and once their appointment is booked. Reminders of the appointment are sent 1 week and 48 hours before their appointment.

Pathways is a resource that helps physicians help their patients and we are pleased to offer this service to our members.

If you do not currently have access to Pathways and/or require training, please email Cristina Rouillier (crouillier@missiondivision.ca).