Refer a Patient

How to Refer a Patient

Appointment availability

Updated November 2023.

We are accepting new referrals. If your patient has an inborn error of metabolism, see our Biochemical Genetics referral guidelines.

Clinical Genetics is currently experiencing long wait times. To improve access for patients, we are:

• Implementing new scheduling processes to improve efficiency and access.
• Redesigning our internal triage process to identify those patients who need specialty services most urgently. Our team reviews referrals daily.
• Making significant changes to our referral requirements. Please see Referral Requirements below.

If you are unsure whether to refer your patient, please call our Clinical Intake Nurses at 206-987-2080, option 1.  

Referral requirements

Please submit a referral that is complete. This helps us schedule your patient’s appointment in a timely manner and ensure their first visit is smooth and productive.    

We may not schedule patients until a complete referral is received.

Please submit all relevant documentation and chart notes with your referral, including:

• Reason for referral: what is the clinical question for the specialist?
• If the referral is urgent (see within 4 weeks) or routine (next available)
• ICD-10 Diagnosis – required
• Visit type:
  • New patient consult, transfer of care, second opinion, or return visit/ongoing care
• ALL relevant clinical documents
  • Clinic notes
  • Medication history
  • Growth charts/curves 
  • Lab reports
  • Imaging and diagnostic reports
  • Previous specialty evaluations
• Patient’s full name, DOB, sex, address, guardian contact information and insurance
• Referring provider’s name, phone, fax and the referral coordinator’s email address so that we may contact you if additional information is needed
• Preferred clinic location (main hospital campus, Bellevue Clinic and Surgery Center, North Clinic in Everett, South Clinic in Federal Way or Yakima Children's Village)
• If an interpreter is needed
• Any known barriers to performing a successful telehealth (video) visit with the family
• Any previous genetic testing reports

Please note:

• We are seeing new patients through age 17 only. If your patient is 18 or older, we ask that you refer them to an adult genetics provider.
  • There are resources within our community, such as the University of Washington Division of Medical Genetics, whose wait times are shorter than ours. The phone number for Medical Genetics at UW is 206-598-4030.
• We are deferring referrals for patients with Kaiser insurance.
  • Kaiser Permanente has excellent clinical genetics services, and patients are much more likely to have their genetic testing covered by their insurance by using those services. The phone number for Genetics at Kaiser is 206-326-2525.
• We are requiring referrals from PCPs or other healthcare providers rather than allowing self-referrals.
• We are discontinuing seeing some diagnoses previously seen in Genetics.
  • We are working on a complete list of these diagnoses. Guidelines will be provided via fax-back for caring for these patient populations.
• We are routing patients with specific diagnoses to our other appropriate service lines prior to being seen in Genetics.
  • Please follow the usual referral process and refer your patient to Hematology/Oncology for any hematology/oncology diagnoses. 
  • Please follow the usual referral process and refer your patient to the Craniofacial Clinic for the following diagnoses. They will be seen by a geneticist in that clinic.
    • 22q11 / DiGeorge Syndrome
    • Cleft Lip and Palate
    • Craniosynostosis
    • Goldenhar
    • Macroglossia
    • Velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS)
  • Please follow the usual referral process and refer your patient to the Cardiology (Cardiogenetics) Clinic for the following diagnoses. They will be seen by a geneticist in that clinic.
    • Rule out or confirmed Marfan’s Syndrome
    • Rule out or confirmed Connective Tissue Disorders
    • Confirmed Turner Syndrome
    • Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS)
  • Please follow the usual referral process and refer your patient to the Biochemical Genetics Clinic for the following diagnoses. They will be seen by a geneticist in that clinic.
    • Abnormal Newborn Screen
    • Metabolic Conditions
    • mitochondrial disorders
  • Please follow the usual referral process and refer your patient to the Skeletal Health Clinic for the following diagnoses. They will be seen by a geneticist in that clinic.
    • Skeletal Dysplasia
    • Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI)

Submit a referral

Please follow the standard referral procedures below:

• Step-by-Step Guide to Submitting a Referral
• New Patient Referral FAQ

Please note:

• Patients are prioritized based on their current condition and acuity and the availability of a specialist to see them. 
• Your patient will be seen by the provider who is the best match for managing the current problem.
• Please encourage your patients to call 206-987-2056, option 1, to schedule their appointment.

We’re committed to partnering with referring providers

We will provide guidelines for a patient’s care via fax-back in the event they are returned to their PCP for a condition we no longer see. 

We are creating tools to support referring providers in caring for these patients. Learn more in Resources for Providers below.

We are always available to answer questions and support your care of your patients.

• Diagnosis and treatment options: call 206-987-7777 (Provider-to-Provider Line).
• Referring or transporting a patient to our Emergency Department or Urgent Care: call 206-987-8899 or, toll-free, 866-987-8899 (Emergency Department Communications Center).
• Questions about scheduling and referrals, including locating or expediting a referral: call 206-987-2080 (Clinical Intake Nurses).

Learn more about managing your patients at Seattle Children’s.

• Meet the Clinical Genetics team.   
• See our locations.    

What Your Patients Can Expect

• Once we receive your referral, your patient will be in our queue to review and schedule. Many services have a long wait.
• Families may call 206-987-2056, option 1, to ask to be added to a wait list.
• We review openings and the patient referral queue daily.
• As openings become available, we call families to schedule based on provider availability and the patient’s condition and acuity.