A digital tool that simplifies the referral process
Physicians and care teams help patients navigate a complex health system. Traditional paper and fax based referral processes can add administrative work, create delays, and make it harder to track referral status.
eReferral offers a secure digital way to send, receive and manage referrals electronically.
Introducing eReferral Ontario
eReferral Ontario is a provincial digital platform launched by Ontario Health in August 2025 to support electronic referral management. The platform helps reduce reliance on paper forms and faxes, supports more complete referral information and improves visibility through the referral process.
Implementing eReferral can help:
• reduce duplicate referrals
• support patient safety by reducing the risk of lost referrals
• lessen administrative burden for healthcare professionals
• help providers prioritize and triage patient care requests
• improve provider-to-provider communication
There are no onboarding costs for clinicians or organizations.
Learn more about eReferral.
eReferral is part of Ontario’s broader work to modernize digital health services and create a more connected, efficient, and patient-centred health care system. It also aligns with the provincial ‘Patients Before Paperwork’ (Pb4P) initiative, which aims to reduce administrative tasks for healthcare providers.
Read more about digital innovations in Ontario’s health care system and the Pb4P initiative.
Supporting referrals across community and hospital settings
eReferral Ontario supports a wide range of referral pathways, including:
• Specialist referrals
• Hospital based programs
• Diagnostic imaging, such as CT and MRI
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) serve as lead organizations under the Local Delivery Group model in the Ontario West region. Together, we are supporting adoption of eReferral and helping build a broader network of specialists to improve access for primary care providers and community based specialists sending referrals.
Is eReferral right for your practice?
Clinicians and organizations interested in using eReferral can submit an Onboarding Request Form to begin the process.
Ontario’s health system continues to move toward a more integrated digital future, with primary care playing an important role in that change.
Watch this information session to learn more.
