About DRO

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The provincial Digital Referrals & Orders (DRO) program enables health-care providers to electronically exchange, track and manage referrals, medical order requisitions and advice requests in a safe, efficient and effective way. Through the DRO program, the following electronic solutions are available: eReferrals, eOrders, and eSubmissions. Use the tabs below to learn more​ about each one.

Tabs

eReferrals

eReferrals connects primary care providers, specialists and patients to improve care coordination. Health care providers can send referrals based on geography, services, and wait times. Here’s how it works:

  • Referral initiated: The health care provider submits an eReferral to the appropriate specialist.
  • Referral accepted: Once the specialist accepts the referral, the referring provider is automatically notified.
  • Patient notified: The patient receives an automated email with appointment details, confirmation instructions, and any required forms.
  • Secure communication: Secure messaging allows for ongoing, closed-loop communication between providers and patients.
    View ​eReferral​​ forms

Patient engagement tools

The Patient E​​ngagement Suite​ is a collection of electronic medical record (EMR) integrated tools that allow providers to seamlessly connect with their patients. Patients can easily contribute to medical records, making visits more efficient and informative. When enabling eReferrals, the DRO program also supports:

  • Automated appointment reminders
  • Secure patient messaging 
  • Unlimited access to the Ocean eForms library

Please note, this solution is only available to clinics using EMRs that are integrated with Ocean (see EMR Integrations​).​

 

eOrders

eOrders allow you to send tests and imaging requests directly from your EMR to labs or diagnostic centres. By replacing paper, fax and phone-based requests with secure online channels, eOrders deliver:
  • Instant transmission of orders with real-time confirmation
  • Automatic patient details and one-click order creation​​
  • Fewer errors and less administrative work
  • Complete audit trails and strong data protection
With eOrders, your team speeds up patient care, cuts down on calls and faxes, and stays focused on patient care rather than paperwork.

Currently, community medical imaging clinics are enabled to receive requisitions. The Standard Outpatient Lab Requestion  (SOPLR) will be available soon.
View eOrder Forms

eSubmissions

eSubmissions make it easy to securely send clinical documents directly from your integrated EMR to health agencies or programs. By replacing paper-based workflows, eSubmissions offer:
  • Instant delivery of documents and real-time status updates
  • Automated patient context and simplified documentation
  • Fewer transcription errors and less administrative burden
  • Full audit trails and data security
Overall, eSubmissions can simplify your workflow so your team can focus on patient care rather than paperwork.

Work is currently underway with the Special Authority​ program developing submission forms for drug approvals.  ​

Content Editor ‭[3]‬


​Ocean​ is the platform behind the Digital Referrals & Orders program.​​​​

Content Editor ‭[2]‬


Image of Dr. Birinder Narang

"​This solution sends and receives referrals accurately with automatic patient notifications."

—​Dr. Brind​er Narang, Global BC Me​​dical


Content Editor ‭[1]‬

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