InfoMedix has launched a new two-way messaging capability for its Referral Manager platform, enabling health services to provide digital updates to referring GPs as referrals progress through the system.
Developed in partnership with secure messaging provider HealthLink, the capability extends the referral workflow beyond the initial submission, allowing information to flow back to the referring practice as a patient moves through the referral process.
The new functionality is designed to address a common challenge in referral management: keeping GPs informed about what happens after a referral has been sent.
Rather than requiring practices to contact a health service for an update, referral status information can be communicated digitally, providing greater visibility of the referral journey while reducing manual follow-up and administrative enquiries.
The capability is now live at Eastern Health, which has been an InfoMedix Referral Manager customer since 2008, as well as forming part of InfoMedix’s ongoing development of its referral management platform.
InfoMedix CEO Jeff Smoot said the launch represented an important evolution of referral management, moving beyond the digital transfer of referrals towards a more connected two-way process.
“Digital referrals have transformed the way information moves from primary care into hospitals, but the referral journey doesn’t end when the referral is submitted,” Mr Smoot said.
“There is a significant opportunity to improve what happens on the other side — keeping the referring GP informed about what is happening with their patient without requiring them to pick up the phone or chase the health service.”
“Two-way messaging closes that loop. It provides greater transparency across the referral journey and helps make the process more efficient for everyone involved.”
The capability has been developed in partnership with HealthLink, building on the companies’ longstanding collaboration in connecting healthcare providers through secure digital messaging.
HealthLink Commercial Director ANZ David Young said the ability to communicate information back to the referring GP was an important part of creating a more connected referral process.
“The value of digital referrals is not simply in replacing paper or fax with a digital message,” Mr Young said.
“The real opportunity is to create a connected workflow where information can move securely in both directions. Giving GPs visibility of what is happening with a referral can reduce unnecessary follow-up and provide a much better flow of information between primary and secondary care.”
“Our collaboration with InfoMedix brings together HealthLink’s secure messaging infrastructure and InfoMedix’s referral management capabilities to support that more connected model.”
Referral Manager is used to manage referral intake, workflow, tracking and communication, helping health services provide greater visibility of referrals from initial receipt through to the next stage of care.
The addition of two-way messaging further extends those capabilities by allowing information to be communicated back to the referring GP, helping health services reduce manual status enquiries and giving primary care greater visibility of the referral journey.
Mr Smoot said the launch was an example of InfoMedix’s broader focus on improving connectivity between the systems and organisations involved in patient care.
“Healthcare is increasingly connected, but there are still many points in the patient journey where information can get stuck or where people have to rely on phone calls and manual processes to find out what is happening,” he said.
“Our focus is on using the technology and connections that already exist to remove those friction points. Two-way messaging is a relatively simple concept, but it can make a meaningful difference to the way referrals are managed.”
The two-way messaging capability is now available as part of InfoMedix Referral Manager, with the solution currently live at Eastern Health.
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