GP Smart Referrals

GP Smart Referrals are digital referrals that integrate with Best Practice and Medical Director software to enable faster, more streamlined management of referrals to Queensland public hospitals.  

Smart Referrals make it quicker and easier for General Practitioners (GPs) to refer their patients for specialist outpatient and community services ensuring referrals will be sent to the right place, first time and with all the essential referral information needed to accurately categorise as per Metro North Refer Your Patient. 

Key features and benefits for GPs

• The GPSR condition referral templates are aligned to Clinical Prioritisation Criteria. The templates prompt the inclusion of essential information and pull pathology and investigations from your practice software, making it easier for GPs to include all required information for your referral to be accepted.
• Allowing for the attachment of test results, imaging and other clinical documents from the clinical record or your PC, in multiple formats. (e.g images, PDF, word documents from clinical record or computer up to 25MB).
• The only way to access Request for Advice services from Metro North Health hospital specialists.
• A in-built Service Directory to inform you of the closest service available to your patient’s home and estimated wait times.
• Track and receive electronic updates into your Practice Management Software about where the referral is at along the continuum.
• Integrates with HealthPathways.

Register for GP Smart Referrals

Practice registration and setup is required to access GP Smart Referrals. There are 3 steps to registration and onboarding prior to using GP Smart Referrals to refer your patient to Queensland Health hospitals and services. 

To register for GP Smart Referrals: 

1. Please read the Smart Referrals Terms of Use document
2. Complete the Practice Registration 

The Registration Guide will assist with practice registration information. 

Registration is only required at a practice level. If you are a new GP and your practice has been onboarded for GP Smart Referrals, you can begin to use GP Smart Referrals immediately. 

Technical setup and installation 

Once your practice registration is received. BPAC (GP Smart Referrals vendor) will be in touch with a Valida Bridge key and will assist with installing GP Smart Referrals in your practice.

Training and education

GP Smart Referrals training is offered by BPAC to ensure you know how to best use the system. Training will be arranged with BPAC following installation. 

GP Smart Referrals Support 

For technical assistance and support with the Smart Referrals application: 

1. Phone: call the Queensland Health IT GP hotline 1300 478 439 (available 24/7), select Option 2: Smart Referrals.
2. Email: QH-SmartReferrals@health.qld.gov.au for support Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm. 

Training and education support

Statewide support resources can be found online here. 

The Metro North GPLO team offer education, support and tips and tricks following the initial user training. See GPLO Metro North Health for more information.