Services accepting eReferrals
A number of Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) outpatient services accept eReferrals, as part of a statewide Engage Outpatients program.
The program lets general practitioners (GPs), medical specialists, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals submit referrals via electronic forms set up on their practice management systems or via the HealthLink web portal. Referrals are received and managed electronically by outpatients services, and notifications sent to the referrers and patients electronically.
Using eReferrals will not effect how patients engage with their GP or health professional during a consult.
Services and clinics at the following locations are currently accepting eReferrals, with additional clinics across WNSWLHD to be included in the ‘Engage Outpatients’ implementation at a later date.
If you refer patients into specialist outpatient services at Dubbo Health Service, from 11 September 2024 the following Dubbo clinics will be able to receive patient referrals via HealthLink eReferral:
| General Specialist Clinics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cardiology | Dermatology | Diabetes |
| Endocrinology | Gastroenterology/Liver | General Surgery |
| Geriatric Medicine | Gynaecology | Infectious Diseases |
| Nephrology | Neurology/Stroke | Obstetrics |
| Ophthalmology | Orthopaedics | Paediatrics |
| Rehabilitation | Respiratory | Rheumatology |
| Medical Day Treatment (Ambulatory Care Procedure Clinic) | ||
| Cancer Services Specialist Clinics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Haematology | Medical Oncology | Radiation Oncology |
Information for healthcare professionals
HealthLink eReferral users can select a form, automatically pre-populate data from the electronic patient record, have it validated, send it securely to the intended recipient and receive a receipt electronically.
A copy of the form will also be automatically stored securely in the patient’s record.
Setting up HealthLink eReferrals in your practice
HealthLink eReferrals can be integrated within the following software programs:
- Best Practice
- Genie
- Medical Director
- Medtech Evolution
- Shexie Platinum
- Zedmed.
Practices using these systems can integrate HealthLink for free. Alternatively, you can use the MyHealthLink Portal, you may need to use the Quick Start Guide: MyHealthLink Portal (PDF 1.54MB) to get started.
A HealthLink Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) account is required, if you do not have an account please complete the HealthLink Service Application Form.
Help and support
For queries or technical support, contact HealthLink Help and Support via:
Tutorials and user guides
HealthLink has provided video tutorials and user guides to help practice staff integrate HealthLink with their practice management system. These resources can be found on the HealthLink website.
A better referral process
eReferrals allow primary healthcare professionals to efficiently and securely send patient referral documents electronically.
eReferrals are designed to be more sustainable than other processes of faxing, emailing or posting referrals, while also enhancing the triage and health management of a patient’s journey, improving patient safety, and potentially reducing specialist outpatient wait times.
The Engage Outpatients solution improves the referral experience of patients, carers, referrers and clinicians by:
- Improving the continuity of care for patients, by streamlining the secure sharing of patient information between referrers and outpatient services
- Saving staff time on manual paperwork and processing faxes
- Reducing the number of lost or misdirected referrals
- Providing referrers with greater visibility of available hospital services
- Improving the quality of referral information
- Providing digital notifications to referrers and patients on the referral progress and triage outcome