A referral order is written by a provider who wants you to see a specialist or get a specific medical service, like imaging. The referral order includes details about the type of care or services you should receive.
Why am I required to upload a referral order?
On Zocdoc, referral orders are currently required to book any of these services with imaging facilities:
X-ray
Ultrasound
Mammogram
CT
MRI
Uploading your referral order ensures that the facility gets the information they need to prepare for your appointment and provide the right type of imaging service.
This also gives the facility the contact information for the provider who ordered the imaging tests (known as the referring physician) so they can coordinate with the referring physician, ask any clarifying questions about the service needed, and send the referring physician your results.
What is a referring physician?
A referring physician is the provider who ordered the tests or imaging, or encouraged you to see a specialist; they should also receive your results. If you’re at least 40 years old and are booking only a screening mammogram (without any other imaging tests), you aren’t required to upload a referral order. Instead, during booking you’ll be required to share contact information for a referring physician.
Referral order FAQs
I tried to upload my referral order but it’s not working. What’s wrong?
Make sure you’re uploading the correct file type. You can only upload an image (.jpg, .jpeg, or .png); you can’t upload a pdf. If your referral order is a pdf, take a screenshot instead and upload that image.
My referral order is multiple pages, but I’m only able to upload one image. How do I upload more images?
Typically, imaging facilities can get the information they need from the first page of the referral order, so you only need to upload the first page. If the imaging facility needs any information from the additional pages, they’ll get in touch after your appointment is booked.
Why am I required to provide contact information for a referring physician if I don’t have a referral order?
Even if you don’t need a referral order, imaging facilities still need contact information for a physician who will receive your results.