What is it called when a doctor refers a patient to a specialist for treatment?

The correct term for when a doctor refers a patient to a specialist for treatment is "referral." This process is an essential aspect of healthcare, allowing for the continuity of care and enabling patients to receive specialized attention for particular health issues that require expertise beyond what a generalist can provide. Referrals are fundamental in coordinating care among different healthcare providers and ensuring that patients have access to necessary resources and treatments tailored to their specific conditions.

In the healthcare system, a referral helps maintain a structured approach to treatment, ensuring that patients are directed to the right specialists who can address their unique health concerns effectively. It serves to facilitate further evaluation and intervention, which can be critical in managing complex health conditions.

The term consultation refers to a meeting between a patient and a doctor or specialist, typically in the context of discussing care options but does not inherently involve the act of one provider sending a patient to another. Inspection implies a more superficial examination rather than the detailed, collaborative approach of a referral, while assessment generally refers to the broader evaluation of a patient's health rather than the act of referring them to another provider.