Reader Question: Distinguish Consultation, Transfer of Care

Why This Topic Matters

Correctly identifying whether a referred encounter is a consultation or a transfer of care affects reporting accuracy and documentation practices. The article also highlights the importance of recording the referral, preserving the consultative record, and timely communicating findings back to the requesting physician.

Article Sections

1. Question

   Introduces a billing question about referred surgical patients and asks whether the encounter should be treated as a consultation or a transfer of care. It also asks about the need for written support from the referring physician.

2. Answer

   Provides a general response about how these referral situations are typically viewed and outlines the documentation and communication practices discussed by the article.

3. Document consult

   Discusses the need to document the consultative service and notes where supporting information may be found in the record. It focuses on how the referral should be reflected in the clinician’s note.

4. Report findings

   Addresses the expectation that the evaluating physician communicate the results of the consultation to the requesting physician. It emphasizes that the report should be sent in a timely manner.

5. Transfer of care is different

   Explains that transfer of care is a separate referral scenario involving an existing treating relationship for a specific condition. It contrasts that situation with the type of surgical referral described in the article.