Evaluation of the Performance of Referral System in Family Physician Program in Iran University of Medical Sciences: 2009

Referral system has an important role in cost reduction and patient access to more specialized services. Regarding the importance of the referral system in family physician program, this study was performed to evaluate performance of the referral system in Iran University of Medical Sciences. This descriptive- analytic study was performed in 2009. 27 health care centers (52%) in which the family physician program was implemented and rural insurance was covered by Iran University of Medical Sciences in Shariar, Robatkarim, Karej, Savojbalagh and Nazarabad distric were randomly selected. In each center 7- 10 patients who were referred to level 2 by their family physician and received necessary services were evaluated. From 225 patients who received level 2 services, 137 cases (60.9%) were female. 78 (34.7%) were referred form health houses. 146 persons (64.9%) referred with the will of family physician and in 79 cases (35.1%), the family physician had the role to choose a specialist of level 2. For 68 cases (30.2%), the specialists wrote the results of their evaluation in "feedback form". Only 57 patients (25.4%) returned to their family physicians. 127 patients (75.6%) didnt return to their family physicians because of lack of knowledge. The performance of the referral system in family physician program is not as expected and requires improvement.