Referring Physician
A referring physician is a doctor who refers his patient on to another physician or a hospital. This practice is generally due to the doctor not having the expertise or the facilities to provide the patient with the specialized care he or she requires.

One of the most common reasons a referring physician sends their patients on is due to complicated illnesses such as cancer. Many patients are referred to cancer centers or hospitals with an oncology unit to allow the patient to receive the level of care that they require. In some instances, the referring physician must first meet with the hospital or center to discuss the patient's history and to determine the area that the patient should be admitted to.

Many hospitals and cancer centers provide referring physicians with several resources to assist them in the transfer of their patients. They offer information on the various departments as well as forms, contact information and patient information that may assist in the transfer of the patient from the referring physician's office to the hospital or center.

Many hospitals work hard to ensure that the information received by the patient is also received by the referring physician.

Many hospitals have set up systems that allow referring physicians to receive around the clock assistance and information including phone lines, directory database and liaison services. These services provide referring physicians with resources that allow them to receive information through a database regarding information about their physicians. They also provide referring physicians with assistance when they visit a hospital or center that they are unfamiliar with.

Many hospitals and centers know that it is up to them to assist referring physicians and provide prompt communication between the patients' physicians and their medical staff. These services assist referring physicians so that they do not feel lost and can always gain timely information regarding their patients.