New Electronic Referral System Malfunctions, Says Patient Rights Expert
Patient rights expert Solvita Olsena states that the new electronic referral system, whose principle of 'one referral, one appointment' is correct, actually works with errors and does not meet patient needs, especially when a patient finds an opportunity to undergo an examination earlier at another facility.
The newly introduced electronic referral system in Latvia is experiencing operational glitches, according to patient rights expert Solvita Olsena. She has used the system multiple times, booking either into the so-called waiting list or for a specific time. Although the principle of 'one referral, one appointment' is sound, in practice it creates problems.
Difficulties arise especially when a patient, after making an appointment, finds a possibility to undergo the examination sooner at another medical institution. The system cannot flexibly accommodate such changes, and patients face obstacles in canceling or modifying their existing booking. This indicates that the system's functionality is not sufficiently tailored to real patient needs.
Olsena emphasizes that the system's implementation should aim for patient convenience and efficient use of healthcare resources, but the current version fails to achieve these goals. Her experience shows that the electronic referral system remains imperfect and requires improvements to serve patient interests.
