How you can help make the connection

Understand

Understand how important it is to communicate regularly with your patients’ medical and behavioral health practitioners.

Your contact helps share clinical information for thorough treatment and continuity of care. It’s especially important:

• When patients have coexisting health problems
• When medications are prescribed
• If you have medical concerns 

Talk

Talk with your patients about how coordinated care can lead to better results. Ask for their okay for you to communicate with their other treating providers.

Working together can mean reduced costs and better results, including:

• Lower mortality
• Higher satisfaction
• Lower readmission rates

Ask your patients to sign a release form

Ask your patients to sign an authorization to release information. Other treating providers need to know diagnosis, treatment plan summary, medications, referrals and consultation availability.

Forms

Authorization to release information
(between medical and behavioral health providers)

Physician communication form 
(for specialists to communicate with primary care physician) 

Authorization to release protected health information  

Need other forms?

Forms for health care professionals
Forms for patients