Digital Referrals Explained: How Electronic Imaging Referrals Work in Australia

A digital imaging referral is an electronic document that replaces the traditional paper or fax-based referral. Instead of printing, signing, and handing the patient a physical piece of paper, the GP sends the referral electronically - either directly to an imaging clinic, through a referral management platform, or via a secure messaging service.

The core information is the same as a paper referral (patient details, clinical indication, scan type, GP provider number), but the delivery is faster, more reliable, and creates a traceable digital record.

Paper referral: • Printed, signed, and given to the patient • Patient must bring it to their appointment • Risk of loss, forgetting, or damage • No way for the GP to track whether the patient has attended

Fax referral: • Sent directly to the imaging clinic's fax machine • More reliable than paper (patient doesn't need to carry it) • Still requires a fax machine, fax number, and manual sending • No confirmation of receipt unless the clinic calls back • Gradually being phased out as clinics adopt digital systems

Digital / electronic referral: • Sent through a secure digital platform • Instant delivery, confirmed receipt • Pre-populated patient details reduce transcription errors • GP can track whether the patient has booked and attended • Integrated with some clinical software (Best Practice, Medical Director, Zedmed) • The patient receives a notification and can book online in many systems

Radly's Practitioner Portal allows GPs to send digital imaging referrals directly to patients, who can then book at any participating Radly clinic - all online, without phone calls.

How it works: 1. The GP creates a referral in the Radly Practitioner Portal - entering the patient's details, scan type, clinical indication, and relevant notes 2. A secure referral link is sent to the patient via SMS or email 3. The patient clicks the link, finds a nearby Radly-listed clinic that performs the scan, and books directly 4. The GP can track whether the patient has booked and which clinic they chose

Benefits for GPs: • No more "here's a referral, good luck finding a clinic" conversations • Patients are more likely to actually book when it's seamless • Built-in clinic directory - patients can compare prices and bulk billing before booking • Referral forms can include custom instructions or clinical notes for the clinic • Free to use for GPs

To get started, visit radly.com.au/refer or sign up at the Radly Practitioner Portal.

Digital referrals must comply with Australian privacy law and healthcare data security requirements:

• Referrals contain sensitive health information and must be transmitted via encrypted, secure channels • The GP remains responsible for the referral content and must ensure accuracy before sending • Patients should be informed that their referral is being sent digitally and to which platform • Data retention requirements apply - check where a platform stores referral data and how it secures it

The Radly Practitioner Portal: • Encrypts referral data in transit (TLS) and at rest (AES-256) • Stores data securely on Google Cloud infrastructure, as detailed in our Privacy Policy • Never sells patient data or uses it for advertising - it is shared only with the patient's chosen imaging clinic and the service providers described in our Privacy Policy • Handles personal information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (APPs)

Many Australian GP clinical software packages support electronic referral modules:

• Best Practice - supports HealthLink and other eSolutions integrations • Medical Director - supports Argus and other secure messaging systems • Zedmed - integrated referral functionality • HotDoc - patient-facing booking with GP referral upload • Radly - standalone web-based portal, no software installation required

If your practice already uses a secure messaging platform (Argus, HealthLink, Medical Objects), check whether your imaging clinics are connected. Many radiology groups can receive referrals directly through these channels.

For practices not yet using electronic referrals, the Radly Practitioner Portal requires no software installation - just a web browser and a free account.

One of the biggest advantages of digital referrals is closing the referral-to-booking gap. Studies suggest that up to 30% of imaging referrals are never acted on by patients - often because finding and booking a suitable clinic is too difficult.

With a digital referral that includes a direct booking link: • Patients receive the referral on their phone immediately after the consultation • They can book while still at the clinic or on the way home • There's no separate search for clinics, no phone calls during business hours • Radly shows pricing, bulk billing availability, and opening hours upfront

This translates to better patient health outcomes and fewer "did you end up getting that scan done?" conversations at the follow-up appointment.