Why do referrals so often fail to result in completed care?

Because most systems operate in an “open loop” model:

• A referral is sent
• No confirmation is received
• No one tracks whether the patient actually connects to care

This leads to:

• Lost patients
• Unknown outcomes
• Lower performance on quality measures

Effective systems implement closed-loop referrals, where:

• Outcomes are tracked and reported back
• Receipt is confirmed
• Appointments are scheduled