Monitoring Emergency Referral Services in a Secondary Health Care Institution in Sri Lanka

Background: A referral system will function effectively if all service providers adhere to the referral discipline, to refer appropriately. Objective: To monitor emergency referral pattern in a Secondary health care institution in Eastern Province of Sri Lanka between Jan 2014 to Jan 2016. Study design: A record based descriptive study. Results: Majority of cases (56.69%) was referred between 8 am to 2pm and snake bite and poisoning (26.01%) were the most common cause of referral. Most cases (51.45%) are referred to higher center for further management (inpatient care) followed by specific investigation (27.96%). 98.4% cases were found to be appropriate for referral & there was no back referral information in majority (95.8%) of cases. Interpretation: Standardized referral register should be maintained both in initiating facility and receiving facility. Higher center should provide proper Back referral information.