Refer Your Patients for Psychological Testing and Evaluations

Dr. Laura Sanders

We Are Here to Help You and Your Patients/Clients

At Northern Colorado Assessment, we welcome referrals from schools, physicians, counselors, and other providers. We are here to help make and clarify diagnoses. Referring people for assessment can be difficult, especially if you are concerned they may feel surprised by the information. Referring professionals may be hesitant to bring up “big” diagnoses like autism without a complete evaluation to rule out other disorders. On this page, we’ll walk through some ways to make the referral process a little easier for you and your clients/patients.

 

When Should I Refer a Patient for Assessment?

Neuropsychological assessments are beneficial in a variety of situations, including:

  • Diagnosing a new condition
  • Ruling out a specific condition
  • Explaining the degree of cognitive function impairment after traumatic injury
  • Setting a baseline for comparison of treatment progress
  • Providing clarity for complex cases and improving efficacy of treatment offerings
  • Evaluating the accommodation needs of clients with learning differences or conditions that may impede ability to work, adhere to medical recommendations, or live independently

 

Why Should I Refer Patients to Northern Colorado Assessment?

At Northern Colorado Assessment, you’ll be working with an experienced and dedicated psychologist, Dr. Laura Sanders. We offer a variety of psychological assessment services, using a complete battery of evidence-based, standardized tests. Each person will be given specific assessments to address individual needs. Most importantly, Dr. Sanders will always provide clients with respectful, caring service, so you can rest assured they’re in good hands.

 

How do I Approach Referrals?

It’s important that your patient/client, student, or other referral feels comfortable when they come to visit us for assessment, but it can be hard to approach the subject with a patient. Some people can be insulted by the insinuation that there might be “something wrong.” Others will be more open to the idea of assessment. We recommend taking the following steps to make the referral a little easier on your client:

  1. Approach the referral by explaining the need for a specialist to provide additional information to help ensure they are appropriately cared for or receive necessary accommodations.
  2. Always present referrals as an option to find answers rather and take time to explain the benefits of assessment.
  3. Make sure you involve people in the referral process. Talk to them about our office, what we do, and who we are. In fact, don’t hesitate to give them our contact information if they want to learn more.
  4. Discuss potential concerns like cost and insurance policies, time for the assessment, and other barriers.
  5. If clients refuse or are unable to seek assessment right away, leave the door open for them. Make sure to check in during future visits and remind the client of the benefits of official diagnosis for treatment planning and ongoing care.

 

What Information is Needed for a Referral?

When you make a referral for one of your clients, we ask that you be prepared to share some basic information like their name, date of birth, and any insurance coverage information. We also ask that you be prepared to discuss any previous diagnoses, medications you’re prescribing, and contact information for any other medical providers or therapists you believe we should contact for records or results from previous testing. Finally, we’ll want to discuss the suspected diagnosis that lead you to refer your patient to our office for assessment. You can provide these in writing via fax or email. You can also share the information over the phone. When necessary, we will have the client fill out forms that allow us to share medical information and test results.

 

How do I Make a Referral to Northern Colorado Assessment?

We’re happy to accept referrals over the phone, via fax, or you can get started by completing the contact form below. If you have questions or want to get to know Dr. Sanders a little better, don’t hesitate to give the office a call or shoot her an email.

Heather Forte is the practice administrator. She can help by gather and running benefits, scheduling, and answering basic questions.