Bede Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 Do any primary care docs ever have agreements with specialists for the specialist to pay the primary care doc a small fee for referring a patient? This would keep the case load up for the specialist and provide a bit of extra cash for the FM doc. I've never heard of this in medicine, but it happens in legal circles all the time; a huge firm pays a small time lawyer a percentage of the billable for referring a case too large for the small time lawyer to handle. Would it even be legal? Any ethical considerations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moo Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 I don't think its legal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
physiology Posted February 5, 2010 Report Share Posted February 5, 2010 It probably does happen, but no one would ever speak of it. Probably violates some code of ethics somewhere. It is interesting how GPs will refer though. Some base it on short wait lists, others on location of the specialist, but the most common referral reason is because of rapport and degree of comfort with that specialist (ie. good letters to GPs, good word of mouth feedback from patients, etc). Thus, GPs will generally refer to the same specialist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bede Posted February 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 I got referred to a urologist for a vasectomy. The way my GP explained it: "'ll refer you Dr.X. He has a personality like a snake, but he the best surgeon in town." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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