The purpose of this study was to explore what makes the interorganizational referral process effective and efficient from the perspectives of acute care referral senders and post acute care referral receivers. The referral process was conceptualized as the classic communication model involving a sender, receiver, information, a communication channel and contextual factors such as formalization and relationships. The hypotheses proposed that the relationships between each of the variables information usefulness, communication channel richness, and degree of formalization affected each of perceived referral process effectiveness and efficiency through the variable ‘relational coordination’. Key informants who either sent referrals from acute care settings or who received them in post acute care inpatient settings were asked to discuss each variable. These results were combined with those of a literature review to develop questionnaires containing a scale with acceptable Chronbach alpha for each. Surveys were disseminated through networks and associations involved in acute and post acute stroke and hip fracture care and in discharge planning and Long Term Care. Useable responses included 114 surveys from referral senders and 171 from referral recipients. Baron and Kenny’s four step test for mediation was used to test the hypotheses. For senders, each of channel richness (adjR2 = 10% p= 0.001), information usefulness (adjR2 = 16% p= 0.000), and formalization (adjR2 = 10% p= 0.000) were significantly related to perceived effectiveness. For channel richness, the relationship with perceived effectiveness was partially mediated by relational coordination (adjR2 = 19% p= 0.001). This was also the case for the relationship between information usefulness and perceived effectiveness (adjR2 = 0.20; p=000). For receivers, channel richness is related to perceived effectiveness through relational coordination (adjR2 = 12% p= 0.003). This was also the case for information usefulness (adjR2 = 13% p= 0.000). In neither group were any of the variables significantly related to efficiency. We may conclude that in the referral process, channel richness and information usefulness are related to perceived effectiveness for both senders and receivers. These may provide an important return on investment if chosen as an areas for referral process improvement, if accompanied by concurrent investments in relational coordination.

The purpose of this study was to explore what makes the interorganizational referral process effective and efficient from the perspectives of acute care referral senders and post acute care referral receivers. The referral process was conceptualized as the classic communication model involving a sender, receiver, information, a communication channel and contextual factors such as formalization and relationships. The hypotheses proposed that the relationships between each of the variables information usefulness, communication channel richness, and degree of formalization affected each of perceived referral process effectiveness and efficiency through the variable ‘relational coordination’. Key informants who either sent referrals from acute care settings or who received them in post acute care inpatient settings were asked to discuss each variable. These results were combined with those of a literature review to develop questionnaires containing a scale with acceptable Chronbach alpha for each. Surveys were disseminated through networks and associations involved in acute and post acute stroke and hip fracture care and in discharge planning and Long Term Care. Useable responses included 114 surveys from referral senders and 171 from referral recipients. Baron and Kenny’s four step test for mediation was used to test the hypotheses. For senders, each of channel richness (adjR2 = 10% p= 0.001), information usefulness (adjR2 = 16% p= 0.000), and formalization (adjR2 = 10% p= 0.000) were significantly related to perceived effectiveness. For channel richness, the relationship with perceived effectiveness was partially mediated by relational coordination (adjR2 = 19% p= 0.001). This was also the case for the relationship between information usefulness and perceived effectiveness (adjR2 = 0.20; p=000). For receivers, channel richness is related to perceived effectiveness through relational coordination (adjR2 = 12% p= 0.003). This was also the case for information usefulness (adjR2 = 13% p= 0.000). In neither group were any of the variables significantly related to efficiency. We may conclude that in the referral process, channel richness and information usefulness are related to perceived effectiveness for both senders and receivers. These may provide an important return on investment if chosen as an areas for referral process improvement, if accompanied by concurrent investments in relational coordination.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 47-06, page: 3552. Adviser: T. Robert Harris. Includes bibliographical references.

This study aimed to utilize usability engineering methods in order to identify facilitators and barriers to electronic referral system adoption by radiation oncologists at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and provide recommendations for electronic referral system design. Analyses included workflow analysis of radiation oncologists reviewing referrals, belief elicitation interviews with radiation oncologists, a heuristic evaluation of an existing electronic referral system interface, and cognitive walkthrough of that interface with radiation oncologists. Based on these findings, the system interface was redesigned using mock-up software to address identified usability issues. The existing and redesigned interfaces were compared using observational usability testing with radiation oncologists. The redesigned system interface yielded reduced task times and enhanced user satisfaction as compared to the existing interface. Thus, user-centred design was useful in determining facilitators and barriers to e-referral adoption.

This study aimed to utilize usability engineering methods in order to identify facilitators and barriers to electronic referral system adoption by radiation oncologists at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and provide recommendations for electronic referral system design. Analyses included workflow analysis of radiation oncologists reviewing referrals, belief elicitation interviews with radiation oncologists, a heuristic evaluation of an existing electronic referral system interface, and cognitive walkthrough of that interface with radiation oncologists. Based on these findings, the system interface was redesigned using mock-up software to address identified usability issues. The existing and redesigned interfaces were compared using observational usability testing with radiation oncologists. The redesigned system interface yielded reduced task times and enhanced user satisfaction as compared to the existing interface. Thus, user-centred design was useful in determining facilitators and barriers to e-referral adoption.

Problem: För att skapa ett starkt employer brand ska arbetsgivaren inneha positiva associationer hos potentiella medarbetare, vilket bidrar till att mindre resurser krävs för att finna den efterfrågade kompetensen. Då en rekommendation handlar om att yttra sig förmånligt blir betydelsen av medarbetares rekommendationer viktig för företagets employer brand. Resultaten av att använda sig av medarbetares rekommendationer i rekryteringsprocessen är känt inom forskningen. Däremot har underliggande faktorer och motiv som ligger till grund för att medarbetare rekommenderar personer i deras sociala nätverk inte adresserats i samma utsträckning. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att undersöka vilka underliggande faktorer och motiv som finns hos anställda vid rekommendationer av personer i deras sociala nätverk. Studien ska analysera hur företag med rekryteringsbehov kan utveckla deras employer brand som i sin tur gynnar rekryteringsprocessen. Studien kan fungera som vägledning i utvecklingen av företags employee referral program, då en allmän förståelse kring rekommendationer saknas. Utifrån resultatet kommer förslag att ges om vad som bör tas hänsyn till vid en utveckling av ett employee referral program. Metod: Den insamlade data är av kvantitativ karaktär och samlades in genom en enkät som skickades ut till anställda på ABB. Resultat: Studien visar att respondenterna i undersökningen motiverades av en prosocial motivation då de rekommenderar någon till att söka anställning hos arbetsgivaren främst för att hjälpa en bekant följt av att hjälpa organisationen. Respondenterna motiverades minst av yttre motivation i form av belöningar samt att rekommendationen ska bistå med ett stärkande av deras position. Hinder och osäkerhet upplevdes till viss del hos respondenterna vid en rekommendation, men i de flesta fall var detta inte en orsak till att inte rekommendera. Det främsta hindret som upplevdes var att respondenterna inte har kunskap om hur de rekommenderar via digitala hjälpmedel och den främsta osäkerheten grundades i att personen som rekommenderas inte ska passa ihop med ABB. De flesta respondenter svarade däremot att inget hinder eller osäkerhet fanns vid en rekommendation. / Problem: In order to create a strong employer brand it requires that the potential employees hold positive associations towards the employer. When this exists, fewer resources are required in order to find the right expertise. A recommendation could be defined as: to speak favourably about something or someone. The importance of employee referrals is vital for the company's employer brand. The results of the use of these types of referral programs in the recruitment process are already known in research. However, the underlying factors and motives for employee referrals and why the employees recommend people in their social networks is not addressed to the same extent in research. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to examine the underlying factors and motivations held by employees when they recommend people in their social network. The study will analyze how companies employer brand and employee referral program can be developed. Based on the results, suggestions will be given on what should be reviewed in a development of an employee referral program. Method: The collected data is of quantitative characteristic and was extracted from a survey, which was sent to ABB employees. Results: The study shows that most of the respondents were motivated by a prosocial motivation, as they mainly recommended someone to help an acquaintance, followed by helping the organization. The external motivation was the motivation the respondents were least motivated by, in regards to rewards and that a referral would assist with a strengthening of their position. Barriers and uncertainties among respondents were perceived to some extent when making a referral. For some respondents this was perceived as a factor for not making a referral, however not for most of them. The main barrier experienced was a lack of knowledge about how to make a referral by using digital tools. The main uncertainty was found in the perception that the person who is recommended make a suitable organisation fit. Most respondents experienced that barriers or uncertainties would not prevent them from making a referral.

The study sought to analyse the referrals received by a psychiatric unit in a general hospital in the Western Cape by studying the referral letters and the referral responses. The study sought to determine which departments were referring patients and which patients were being referred. The completeness and appropriateness of the referrals were also studied. The major inferences drawn from this study are that health care workers have a poor concept of what information the psychiatric units needs and about the scope and function of the unit. The poor feedback from the psychiatric unit to the referral source is indicative of the poor communication amongst the health care team members. / Health Studies / M.A. (Advanced Nursing Sciences)

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropratic)- Dept.of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2006 xvii, 148 leaves / Chiropractors and homeopaths belong to the same paradigm i.e. the biopsychosocial. Due to this fact, there has been a perception that there will automatically be a good referral relationship between these two. This was therefore assumed to be true in the South African context; however until now there has never been any quantifiable evidence as to what the interprofessional ties are between these two professions in this context. This study looked into the current status quo of the factors affecting referrals between chiropractors and homeopaths practicing in the greater Durban Metro area and looks towards future studies which may enhance the interprofessional relationship.

A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for a Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2013. / Objectives: Collaboration between health care practitioners has many advantages including a focus on disease prevention and health promotion, improving service access and the provision of multidisciplinary health care teams. To achieve this ideal health care provision, understanding the current landscape of referral/interaction between practitioners and the factors which influence this network are important. This enables effective delivery of health care demanded by the public. As identified factors impacting the inter-referral of patients between practitioners are contextual, they differ in different contexts. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the referral of patients between chiropractors and physiotherapists in the eThekwini municipality.

The primary aim of this thesis is to reach a better empirical and theoretical understanding of what ‘community involvement’ means and what work it does in restorative justice. A case study approach was adopted to examine the involvement of the community in one selected practice of restorative justice, namely youth offender panels in England and Wales. Data collection comprised 127 interviews with key stakeholders involved in youth offender panels, as well as observation of 39 panel meetings, and analysis of related documents (e.g. panel reports and contracts). The role of ‘community’ in youth offender panels is argued to be more ‘theatrical’ (or rhetorical) than real: community panel members do not have a real say in the type or extent of reparation the offender should undergo, they do not clearly benefit from this reparation, and they do not support the reintegration of offenders into the community. The experience of youth offender panels suggests that the greater involvement of lay members of the community – or their changing role from mere witnesses/juries to facilitators – does not help to fully incorporate community harm into criminal justice practice. The English and Welsh experience also suggests that restorative justice advocates have placed unreasonably high expectations on the benefits of lay involvement. For example, this study found that lay members of the community do not have better ‘local knowledge’ than professionals. All in all, a key lesson from the experience of youth offender panels is that – while ignoring the kind of community that features in contemporary, urban contexts – restorative justice programmes run the risk of paying lip service to genuine community involvement. In conclusion, it is argued that restorative justice programmes need to start from a more concrete and up-to-date notion of community. While operationalizing community involvement, they need to acknowledge, all at once: the importance of place; the importance of family links, friendship and other social ties; and the importance of similar social traits and identities.