@ARTICLE{Heidari, author = {Kabir, Mohammad Javad and Heidari, Alireza and Honarvar, Mohammad Reza and Khatirnamani, Zahra and Badakhshan, Abbas and Rafiei, Narges and Kazemi, Sakine Beygom and Lotfi, Mansoureh and }, title = { Eatablishment of an Electronic Referral System in Golestan Province: Opportunities and Threats}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, abstract ={Eatablishment of an Electronic Referral System in Golestan Province: Opportunities and Threats Kabir Mohammad Javad1, Heidari Alireza2*, Honarvar Mohammad Reza2, Khatirnamani Zahra3, Badakhshan Abbas2, Rafiei Narges4, Kazemi Sakine Beygom4, Lotfi Mansoureh3 1. Associate Professor, Health Management and Social Development Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. 2. Assistant professor, Health Management and Social Development Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. 3. MSc, Health Management and Social Development Research Center, Faculty of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran 4. PhD Candidate, Health Management and Social Development Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran *Corresponding Author: Alireza Heidari Address: Naharkhoran Blv, Edalat 72, Gorgan, Iran Tel: +981732558200 Email: alirezaheidari7@gmail.com Abstract: Background & Objectives: The establishment of a referral system leads to improved relations between general practitioners and specialists, improved service quality, reduced waiting time, and reduced costs. The purpose of this study was to explain the opportunities and threats outside the organization in establishing an electronic referral system in Golestan province. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using phenomenological analysis in Golestan province in 2019. The participants were 45 managers, experts, family physicians, specialists, and patients selected via purposive sampling. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed via content analysis. Results: After analyzing the interviews, 7 themes and 18 sub-themes were obtained. The most important opportunities available were the existence of upstream documents and laws, the allocation of one percent of value added to cover the costs, the existence of a Nab (Health information software) independent system in the province, and the reduction of out-of-pocket payments. The main threatening factors were the change of officials of the Ministry of Health and the Health Insurance Organization, the patient’s insistence on visiting a specialist, the patient’s failure to see a specialist despite appointments, Poor notification, delays in payments to doctors, and poor communication infrastructure. Conclusion: Selecting appropriate strategies by taking advantage of opportunities can facilitate the process of implementing the electronic referral system in Golestan province and modeling it in other provinces. Adopting strategies such as formulating national policies, reforming the outpatient payment system, and reducing out-of-pocket payments can help improve the current situation. Key­words: Opportunities, Threats, Electronic Referral System, Comprehensive Health Centers, Hospital Citation: Kabir MJ, Heidari AL, Honarvar MR, Khatirnamani Z, Badakhshan A, Rafiei N, et al. Eatablishment of an Electronic Referral System in Golestan Province: Opportunities and Threats. Journal of Health Based Research 2020; 6(2): 151-67. [In Persian] }, URL = {http://hbrj.kmu.ac.ir/article-1-402-en.html}, eprint = {http://hbrj.kmu.ac.ir/article-1-402-en.pdf}, journal = {Health_Based Research}, doi = {}, year = {2020} }