Referral system is one of the effective tool in the health care delivery system. For any health issue to be tackled successfully, referral system as a concept must be put in place.
Transfer System
This can be defined as one-way relationship within a health facility or hospital that a patient is moved from one department to the other for expertise management.For instance moving a patient from male ward to drug ward due to acute psychotic condition.
Referral System
Referral system can be defined as a health delivery system tool that a patient is transferred from one health facility by a health personnel to another health facility for expertise management. In this case feed back may not be appreciated. It is also known as one-way referral system.
Two-Way Referral System
This is a two way relationship between a primary health care provider of facility and a higher level hospital or facility by health personnel during the transfer and discharge of a patient that feedback is appreciated.
For instance, if a patient is referred from a primary health care to higher level hospital or tertiary hospital or vice-versa, and at the end of the treatment, feedback from that hospital is communicated.
Multiple Way Referral System
This concept is referred to as multiple way relationship between a primary health care provider or facility, a higher level hospital or facility and the highest level care provider or facility by health personnel. During the transfer and discharge of a patient feedback may be appreciated for expertise management.
Merits of Transfer and Referal System
- it saves life
- it saves fund for patient. This is because the treatment is specific and straight to the point which promotes fast recovery.
- it promotes professionalism
- it promotes inter-personal relationship and socialization.
- it helps in improving knowledge in certain treatment modalities
- it prevents complications
- it helps in restoring health as quick as possible
- it helps in research from the data derived from various health facilities at a given point in time.
- it promotes inter-personal relationship in health care delivery system
- it promotes efficiency in the use of specific health technology for the specific patients management
Demerits of Transfer and Referral Systems
- it wastes time
- it waste funds
- It may result in complications
- it may result in high mortality rate
- in accessibility to other health facility because of poor findings
- incompetency on the part of health facility management may warrant unsuccessful management of patient
- lack of transportation would hamper the system
- pride of a health personnel that is not competent can cause inability to refer the case in time to another health personnel that is more competent
- negative religious factors
- socio-economic factors
- stigmatization and misconception in psychiatry
- fear of the unknown for the referred patient
- it may introduce distrust in the health facility.
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