e-Referrals have become the preferred method for health practitioners to request medical imaging for their patients. We know that when integrated seamlessly into your PMS, the e-Referral system streamlines your medical imaging requests.  

We now also know that patients are more responsive when their doctor uses e-Referrals and tend to book their radiology appointments within a faster time period, compared to when they are issued a paper referral.

But, how much faster?

To understand the difference in time between an e-Referral and a standard paper referral booking, I-MED Radiology performed a review and analysis of 288 patient bookings. This sample consisted of 147 paper referral bookings and 141 e-Referral bookings. 

The number of days taken to make each of the 288 bookings was recorded, and an average value for each variable (e-Referral vs paper) was then identified. Day 0 was considered the date the referrer first sent the referral.

It was found that when an e-Referral was sent, patients booked their appointments, on average, 4 times faster. 

It took 5.38 days when using a paper referral, to book their radiology appointment, compared to the 1.13 days for patients using an e-Referral. 

e-Referrals offer greater efficiency and allow patients to manage their own radiology journey. With the ability to schedule their radiology test 4 times faster, via e-Referral, it is possible that your patients will also return to their referring practitioner for clinical review faster. 

Learn more about e-Referrals

• Sample size: 288 I-MED Radiology bookings*  
• Variables: Sample consisted of 147 paper-based referrals and 141 e-Referrals 
• Dates: Bookings were made between 1 Feb and 29 August 2021 
• Location: Clinic bookings in Greater Western Sydney, Central Coast and Brisbane 

^{*Analysed across a section of modalities including CT (Computed Tomography), Guided-Injection, X-ray, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), Ultrasound, Mammogram.} 

^{I-MED Radiology used G* Power 3 analysis to confirm this sample as 95% statistically significant.}