Writing effective referrals

Like good conversation, the art of writing seems to be on the decline. With so many different ways of communicating available to us now the skill of putting pen to paper is gradually being lost. And yet, as optometrists, we are required to write to people on a frequent basis.

This may be something simple like a reminder letter, or more complex such as a report for an insurance company when a client is making a claim for ophthalmic treatment. More commonly, we are writing referral letters to our medical or other ophthalmic colleagues.

As with many things in our undergraduate training, how to write an effective referral letter wasn’t covered. Initially, I learnt how to write referrals from my pre-reg supervisor and ultimately found my own ‘voice’ with time and experience. I make no claim to be an expert in writing referral letters but after 10 years in practice and five years working in a specialist consultant-led glaucoma clinic, my experience is that the quality of some referral letters is poor.