Regulations on procedures for referral of medical examination and treatment

Please let me ask how the law regulates the forms of referral for medical examination and treatment? What are the procedures for referral for medical examination and treatment? - Reader Ngoc Chau

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1. Forms of medical referral

Specifically, Article 4 of Circular 14/2014/TT-BYT stipulates forms of medical examination and treatment referral, including:

- Transferring patients from lower level to higher level:

+ Transfer patients from lower level to the next higher level in the following order: level 4 transfers to level 3, level 3 transfers to level 2, level 2 transfers to level 1;

+ Transferring patients not following the procedures specified in Point a, Clause 1, Article 4 of Circular 14/2014/TT-BYT if the medical examination and treatment facility meets the conditions specified in Point b, Clause 1, Article 5 of Circular 14/2014/TT-BYT.

- Transfer patients from upper level to lower level.

- Transferring patients between medical examination and treatment facilities within the same level.

2. Authority to sign medical referral papers

Pursuant to Article 6 of Circular 14/2014/TT-BYT, the authority to sign medical examination and treatment referral papers is stipulated as follows:

- For state medical examination and treatment facilities: The head of the medical examination and treatment facility or the person authorized by the head of the medical examination and treatment facility signs the referral form.

- For private medical examination and treatment facilities: The person in charge of professional responsibility of the medical examination and treatment facility or the person authorized by the person in charge of professional responsibility of the medical examination and treatment facility signs the referral form.

- During the on-duty session, the leader on duty signs the referral form for emergency cases.

3. Procedures for referral to medical examination and treatment

According to Article 7 of Circular 14/2014/TT-BYT, the procedures for transferring medical examination and treatment are as follows:

(1) Medical examination and treatment facilities shall transfer patients to higher-level facilities or the same level according to the following procedures:

- Notify and clearly explain the reason for referral to the patient or the patient's legal representative;

- Sign the referral form according to the form specified in Appendix No. 1 issued with Circular 14/2014/TT-BYT;

Download: Appendix 1

- In case of emergency, the medical examination and treatment facility must contact the medical examination and treatment facility expected to transfer the patient to; check the patient's condition one last time before transferring; prepare the means to rescue the patient during transportation;

- In case the patient needs technical support from the medical examination and treatment facility that is expected to transfer the patient to, the medical examination and treatment facility transferring the patient must specifically notify about the patient's condition and support requirements so that the medical examination and treatment facility where the patient is transferred can take appropriate measures;

- Deliver the referral form to the escort or the patient or the patient's legal representative to transfer to the medical examination and treatment facility expected to transfer the patient to;

- Hand over the patient and referral form to the medical examination and treatment facility where the patient was transferred to.

(2) Procedures for transferring patients to lower levels are carried out according to regulations:

- Notify and clearly explain the reason for referral to the patient or the patient's legal representative;

- Sign the referral form according to the form specified in Appendix No. 1 issued with Circular 14/2014/TT-BYT;

- Deliver the referral form to the escort or the patient or the patient's legal representative to transfer to the medical examination and treatment facility expected to transfer the patient to;

- Hand over the patient and referral form to the medical examination and treatment facility where the patient was transferred to.

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