Term: Referral Index (RI)

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Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2006-11-02

Definition:

An Index developed to reflect the extent to which a physician over or under-refers patients compared to the average physician after taking into account the characteristics of their practice population. It is the ratio of the actual number of referred patients to the expected number of referred patients identified using the referral field on physician claims. Separate indices were developed for core and occasional patients in a practice.

Related terms 

• Consultation Index (CI)
• Core Patients
• Occasional Patients
• Physician Claims

References 

• Frohlich N, Katz A, De Coster C, Dik N, Soodeen RA, Watson D, Bogdanovic B. Profiling Primary Care Physician Practice in Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2006. [Report] [Summary] (View)