ROLE OF SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS IN REFERRAL COMPLETION

Purpose: This study examined referrals from School-based health center s (SBHCs) to a sponsoring hospital to determine factors influencing su ccessful referral completion and to assess SBHCs' ability to coordinat e care. Methods: A total of 138 referrals from eight SBHCs to Boston C ity Hospital between September 1993 and October 1993 were reviewed via medical records, clinic logs, and hospital registration system. A dat a extraction tool was used to collect information. Statistical analyse s were performed to identify associations between referral completion and study variables. Results: Seventy-five percent of all referrals we re completed: 55.4% on the first attempt. Forty-six percent of those r eferred a second time completed their referrals. Statistically signifi cant associations between referral completion and reason for referral (p = 0.01), visit diagnosis (p = 0.005), and usual source of health ca re (p = 0.009) were found. Provider documentation, including referral log and patient chart, was also associated with referral completion. N either gender, race, nor health insurance had any significant associat ion with successful referrals. Conclusions: This study suggests that S BHCs can significantly contribute to coordinated care for adolescents, especially for the uninsured and those without a source of health car e. SBHCs were particularly effective at facilitating referral to speci fic services including: family planning, tuberculosis prophylaxis, and subspecialty care. Provider action, such as making appointments and d ocumentation, was also an important factor. (C) Society for Adolescent Medicine, 1997.