What referral support is designed to do
Lifam Doctor’s referral pathway is intended to help organise the information and communication needed when a patient may require assessment or treatment beyond the current setting. It supports—not replaces—the clinical judgment, stabilisation duties and emergency processes of the referring professional or facility.
Define the reason
State the clinical question, suspected problem, current condition and why a higher or different level of care is needed.
Share relevant information
Provide findings, treatment given, allergies, results and risks in a concise and usable form.
Close the loop
Confirm receipt, document transfer arrangements and plan feedback or follow-up after receiving care.
For patients and families
If you have been advised to seek care elsewhere, ask the referring professional to explain:
- Why the referral is needed and how urgent it is.
- Where you should go and which service should receive you.
- Whether the receiving facility has been contacted.
- What treatment or stabilisation has already been provided.
- Which documents, results, medicines and identification to carry.
- How transport will be arranged and what to do if your condition worsens.
For referring healthcare professionals
A safe referral communication should contain enough information for the receiving team to understand the case and prepare appropriately. This may include patient identification, reason for referral, urgency, vital signs, relevant examination findings, working diagnosis, treatment already given, allergies, investigation results, transport plan and direct callback details.
Use the professional workspace
Authorised healthcare professionals should manage patient-specific referral details only through approved secure systems—not through this public website.
A closed-loop referral pathway
- Recognise and stabilise: treat immediate threats within capability and do not delay urgent transfer.
- Identify destination: match the patient’s need to an appropriate receiving facility and service.
- Communicate: share a structured clinical summary and confirm that it has been received.
- Transfer safely: choose transport and accompanying support appropriate to the patient’s condition.
- Handover: transfer responsibility directly to the receiving team with relevant records.
- Follow up: obtain feedback and incorporate the receiving plan into continuing care.
Important limitations
Lifam Doctor does not operate a public ambulance dispatch service and cannot guarantee acceptance, bed availability, transport or treatment at another facility. Emergency transfer must follow the responsible facility’s clinical and emergency arrangements.
Never delay emergency care
If the patient is unstable, act through the fastest appropriate emergency channel. Completing a routine online process must not take priority over stabilisation and urgent transfer.