Digital referral
Digital referral is a referral sent to a medical specialist that is forwarded through the Health Information System. Using a digital referral is as easy and convenient for the patient as using a digital prescription.
With the transition to digital referrals, referrals have been made maximally machinable, the information exchanged via a digital referral has become more accurate, and the rules for its use have been specified.
- The patient can see all his/her referrals on the national Health Portal terviseportaal.ee
Outpatient specialized medical care has completely switched to digital referrals.
In the coming years, it is also planned to digitize referrals for nursing care and hospital care, and then referrals for examinations and procedures, as well as referrals for the appointments of non-medical specialists.
When referring a patient to a medical specialist, the referral must always be formalized, at least for all specialties where it is required by law. A referral is required both when referring a patient from a family physician to a medical specialist and from one medical specialist to another one.
The referral is issued to the patient only for a medical indication. The referral must clearly state the medical issue or hypothesis that justifies the need to refer the patient to a medical specialist. Only relevant and underpinning information from the medical history shall be added to the referral.
- If necessary, the family physician can also use the e-consultation service. In this case, the family physician sends the issue related to the patient's treatment directly to the medical specialist through the health information system. The issue will be reviewed by the medical specialist, and the family physician will be consulted on the patient's further treatment, or the patient will be invited to the medical specialist’s appointment, i.e. the patient will be taken over by the medical specialist. The family physician always informs the patient when he/she asks the medical specialist for an e-consultation and also asks for the patient's contact telephone number, which is indicated in the referral letter.
- The medical specialist will provide feedback to the family physician through the health information system within four working days at the latest. If the medical specialist decides to invite the patient, the latter will be contacted within six working days, taking into account the urgency of their health problem, so it is important that the patient's telephone number is correct and that the patient him/herself is available by telephone during this period.