Which statement best defines a referral?

• A. A formal payer approval for services.
• B. An informal suggestion to seek another service.
• C. Directing the client to another service.
• D. A requirement to obtain consent.

Answer: (C)

Referral means actively connecting the client with another service or professional who can meet their needs, and helping them access that service. It involves more than a suggestion—it's coordinating the next step in care and often sharing relevant information with the new provider (with the client's consent as appropriate). This is why directing the client to another service is the best definition of a referral: it embodies taking action to link the client to the appropriate resource.

The other options aren’t the definition of a referral because they refer to different aspects of service delivery. A formal payer approval is authorization from an insurer, not linking the client to a new provider. An informal suggestion to seek another service lacks the active coordination and linkage that characterize a referral. A requirement to obtain consent relates to consent processes, not the act of directing or connecting the client to another service.