Interprofessional Collaboration and Referral
Referring well
A good referral is timely, specific, and complete: it states the reason for referral, relevant history and findings, investigations and results, treatment already provided, the question you are asking, and the urgency. It identifies the patient and the referrer and is documented in the record. Referral does not transfer responsibility for the patient's overall care; continue coordinating and follow up on the outcome.
Working in a team
Items test understanding of role clarity, closed-loop communication, and speaking up when safety is at risk. Shared care requires explicit agreement about who is responsible for what, especially for medically complex patients or those under multiple prescribers. When a colleague's assessment conflicts with yours, the professional route is direct, respectful discussion focused on the patient's interests - not silent non-cooperation or going over their head without cause.
Traps
Common errors: vague referral letters ("please see and treat"), omitting the clinical question, failing to flag urgency, referring without consent or explanation to the patient, and assuming the referral has been actioned. Another trap is failing to communicate relevant medication or allergy information to those who need it.
Rule of thumb
Write the referral so the recipient could triage it without calling you: the diagnosis or question, the urgency, and the specific action requested should be unmistakable in the first few lines.
Worked example: A patient with suspected oral malignancy needs urgent referral. State the suspicious site and features, duration, risk factors, relevant examination findings, and that the referral is urgent on suspicion of malignancy, and record that the patient understands the reason and the expected timescale.