General practitioner referrals to specialists
Prasad, R.; Schattner, P.
Australian Family Physician 20(8): 1147; 1150 1154-1156 Passim
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-8495 PMID: 1953457 Document Number: 372600
A survey of referrals by general practitioners to medical specialists was carried out to determine current referral patterns, and to compare them with two earlier Australian studies. The mean referral rate was 6 per cent of all consultations, with the four most frequent specialty groups referred to being proceduralists. A comparison with two previous Australian surveys reveals minimal change in general practitioner referral patterns in 18 years. The need to study the appropriateness of general practitioner referrals further is stressed.