Emergency Department Transfers & Referrals

Transferring or Referring a Patient for BIDMC Emergency Services

At Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), we are proud to provide the very best clinical care to those important to you. Our attending emergency physicians are among the most experienced in the country and are supported by a staff of highly trained nurses, technicians and when needed, exceptional specialists.

Our team is constantly designing, testing and implementing systems that allow our physicians to provide better and more efficient care. Our Emergency Department (ED) Dashboard allows better two-way communication between the ED and our patients’ primary care physicians. Referring clinicians can place patient information on the Dashboard directly, and speaking with an attending ED physician is as easy as a direct phone call. We were one of the first in the area to integrate iPad technology in the ED for registration and record sharing.

We are committed to keeping you informed of the status of your patients. When patients are discharged from our ED or Observation Unit, a brief summary of their care is emailed directly to the primary care physician.

BID Network Referrals

The most efficient way to refer patients is by placing an “expect” status in our online tool. You can do this directly on the web and the information automatically appears on the screen, as the ED staff is caring for the patient. No more lost pieces of paper, but more importantly, reviewing the call-in notification is a routine part of our workflow so you can be sure that the ED staff is actually seeing it. You can specify clinical information, a call back number (if desired), your choice of specialist, etc.

To refer in the BIDMC Portal:

1. Log into the BIDMC portal at portal.bidmc.org with your login and password.
2. At the top choose Applications --> More.
3. In the left column, choose "Emergency Department Call In Boston."
4. You can search for an existing patient, or click "Proceed" if the patient is new to BIDMC.
5. Complete the form.

Non-BID Network & Phone Referrals

You can also refer a patient by speaking directly to an ED attending at 617-754-2494.

The emergency physician will transcribe the information about the patient into the same system detailed above. BID Network referrers will receive an email update on their patient upon discharge.

Patient Care Process in the ED

Patients referred to BIDMC’s ED go through a three-step process:

• Triage and Registration: Patients are triaged based on acuity and brought into the care area as quickly as possible, depending on bed availability.
• Evaluation: A team of emergency physicians, nurses, and specialists will assess the patient and determine the best course of treatment, whether through clinical evaluation, lab work, or imaging.
• Disposition: Once a diagnosis is made, the team ensures the patient is discharged home, admitted to an inpatient bed, or moved to an observation unit as quickly as possible.

Coordinated Care for Better Outcomes

BIDMC’s emergency team works closely with specialists across multiple departments, including Infectious Diseases, Interventional Radiology, Nephrology, Neurology, Orthopedic Surgery and Psychiatry ensuring comprehensive care for all patients. This collaborative approach enhances patient outcomes and satisfaction, as we can quickly connect patients with the appropriate specialists.