We know that asking for help is often the most difficult step. Joyce Davidson, LCSW our Director of Clinical Services explains the details about what you can expect when calling CPHP for assistance with your health.
About Referring Medical Health Professionals to CPHP
Who Can Refer
Anyone! CPHP accepts self-referrals and calls from persons who may be concerned about a physician, physician assistant, anesthesiology assistant or trainee. CPHP will accept anonymous calls but lacks the ability to mandate participation. Despite this, CPHP will gladly help you explore referral options. See examples of how to have a conversation with a person you may be referring, and offer CPHP as a support.
When to Refer
Please call CPHP if you have any questions about how CPHP can assist with any medical/physical, psychiatric or emotional problems. A Clinician can help you determine if a referral is appropriate.
Voluntary Referrals
To make a voluntary referral, call CPHP at (303) 860-0122 and ask to speak with a Clinician. They will gather the necessary information and answer any questions you may have regarding the referral process.
Things to Know About the CPHP Referral Process
CPHP strives for accommodating initial intake appointments as timely as possible, based on urgency. CPHP may be able to accommodate urgent intakes based on the referred physician’s level of clinical need.
CPHP evaluations typically take place over time. They may involve communication with collateral sources, appointments with CPHP, and/or referrals for outside evaluation or testing. CPHP is aware of such timely needs as probation or contract renewal and can opine on a physician’s skill and safety to practice while the evaluation is underway, to the extent possible.
If you have a concern about an urgent issue please call and consult with a CPHP Clinician.
CPHP is not a walk-in clinic or emergency clinic. If you think a physician is experiencing an emergency health situation, please refer them to the nearest emergency room.
Formal Referrals
Formal referrals are those in which an individual has been mandated to be evaluated at CPHP. These individuals have been required by their workplace, training program or the Colorado Medical Board to be evaluated by CPHP.
When to Formally Refer
Please call CPHP if you have any questions about how any psychological or medical problem could have the potential to impact a physician’s ability to practice medicine safely. If problematic areas have been addressed with a physician, formally or informally, and there has not been resolution, it may be necessary to make a formal referral to CPHP.
If you have a concern about an urgent issue please call and consult with a CPHP Clinician.
If areas of concern indicate the need for a referral to CPHP, please clarify your policy and/or employment contracts, credentialing bylaws, etc., prior to calling CPHP (CPHP does not provide legal advice). It might be helpful to seek advice from other departmental directors who have had experience in referring to and working with CPHP. As noted above, if you have a concern about an urgent issue, please call and consult with CPHP.
How to Make a Formal Referral
CPHP recommends the referring party call CPHP to express the nature of the concerns and to learn first-hand about our intake and assessment process. The referring party can call us at (303) 860-0122 and ask to speak with a member of our clinical staff. This allows the Clinicians to gather information prior to speaking with the referred physician in order to gain an understanding of the nature and severity of the referral.
Please consult with a Clinician prior to sending any additional documentation you think would be helpful to our evaluation. Mandating a referral in writing is optimal.
A template for a formal referral letter can be accessed via Formal Referral Letter Template. CPHP suggests that the referring party, and others in leadership positions, meet with the physician to review the content of this letter. Please send this letter to CPHP at fax 303-860-7426.
Formal Referral Letter
CPHP recommends that the referring party compose a letter to the physician who is formally referred to CPHP. It should include the following:
- Specify the reason for referral to CPHP
- Provide the timeline that the physician has been given to make contact with CPHP
- Provide a timeline to schedule an appointment
- You may decide to mandate that the physician sign CPHP Release of Information forms to specific individuals in order to facilitate the evaluation
- You may choose to include administrative/workplace consequences for the physician should they choose not to comply with the CPHP evaluation and/or treatment and monitoring recommendations.
