Submitting Referrals in OpenBeds

In this article:

• Searching for a Receiving Service
• Submitting a Referral Request

Searching for a Receiving Service 

---

1. Click on the Service Availability page to review all available organizations, additional service and availability details.
   •  Note: You are automatically defaulted to the 'Update Service Availability' page and will need to navigate to the Service Availability page. 
2. Narrow results by filtering according to client attributes using the Search Criteria, Additional Search Criteria and/or Search by Distance tabs.
3. The Service Availability page includes the following columns that you can filter by
   • Submit Request: Indicates the method the receiving organization uses to accept referrals. There are four available options:
     • Green Arrow icon: This organization accepts electronic referrals via OpenBeds for this primary service type. Clicking this option takes you to the ‘Referral Request Form’ for completion to submit the referral request. 
     • Green Phone Icon: This organization normally accepts electronic referrals through OpenBeds, but your request is after their acceptance hours, so you’ll need to call them instead. Clicking this option displays the receiving service’s contact and other information page, including the phone number to call. 
     • Phone Only: This organization only accepts referrals by phone. Clicking this option displays the receiving service’s contact and additional information page, including the phone number to call.  

     • After hours icon: This organization accepts referrals but it is currently outside of business hours. You may create the request form, and it will be sent when that organization opens again.

   • Organization Name: The name of the organization receiving the referral.
   • Primary Service: The primary services provided by the receiving organization. 
   • Inpatient/Residential Beds Available: Defined by the number of available beds by gender and age group.
   • Outpatient: Outpatient services are defined by the ‘Next Available Appointment’ date and/or whether or not the facility has ‘Walk-in Access’.
   • Comments
   • Contact and Service Info: Displays the receiving service’s contact details, including the phone number to call.
   • Last Updated: Lets you know how current the information.  

Submitting a Referral Request

---

1. To open the Referral Request form, click on the green arrow icon(s) for the organization(s)/primary service you want to submit the referral request to. 
2. Complete all the required fields and any other relevant information to facilitate the request. 
   • Please Note: Be sure to obtain and document that you received consent before sharing any of the individual’s protected health information (PHI). Attach a copy of the consent to share PHI if required by the organization receiving the referral request.  
3. Select whether the referral is voluntary or non-voluntary.
4. Click Submit. 

The receiving organization will be notified of your request by email and through their Referral Request Status dashboard. To send a referral to multiple facilities (up to three), select the checkboxes at the top of the Service Availability page.