RT Journal
A1 Katz MH
T1 HOw can we know so little about physician referrals?
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2012
FD January 23
VO 172
IS 2
SP 100
OP 100
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.1290
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.1290
AB 
Are more patients being referred to another physician because medical care is more complicated than it was a decade ago (eg, more medicines, more procedures available), and none of us can know or do everything? Are more patients referred because as practicing doctors we are asked to do more in less time and so we refer out issues that are not in our core practice? Are our patients demanding more referrals, or are we referring more because of concerns of malpractice? Are all of these factors playing a role? The answer is unclear.