Physician Collaboration & Referral Center

At Boling Vision Center, we approach every referring relationship as a genuine clinical partnership, built on mutual respect, clear communication, and a shared commitment to the best possible outcomes for every patient we co-manage.

Collaboration That Puts Patients First

The best patient care rarely happens in isolation. When primary care physicians, optometrists, and specialists across Northern Indiana refer patients to Boling Vision Center, they're entrusting us with people who matter to them professionally and personally. We take that trust seriously, and we work to honor it through every aspect of how we communicate, coordinate, and care for shared patients.

If you're interested in establishing a referral relationship with Boling Vision Center or want to discuss a specific patient, our team is ready to connect. Contact our dedicated referral specialist at the information listed on our Refer a Patient page.

Our Philosophy on Co-Management

Co-management works best when both parties are clear about their roles, communicate proactively, and approach the relationship with genuine mutual respect. At Boling Vision Center, our co-management philosophy is grounded in three core principles.

The Patient Comes First

Every co-management decision we make is driven by what is best for the patient, not by what is most convenient for either practice. When clinical circumstances require us to extend our involvement beyond the original referral scope or to recommend follow-up with the referring provider sooner than anticipated, we communicate that directly and transparently.

Referring Providers Stay Informed

We believe referring providers should always know what is happening with their patients. Our commitment is to keep every referring provider informed at every meaningful stage of the patient's care, from the initial evaluation through any procedures, treatments, and follow-up management, with clear, timely documentation that supports continuity of care on both ends.

We Return What We Receive

When a patient is referred to us for a specific service, our goal is to provide that service with excellence and return the patient to the referring provider's care with everything they need to continue managing the relationship effectively. We do not seek to expand the scope of a referral beyond what is clinically appropriate or to retain patients whose ongoing care belongs within the referring practice.

Our Shared-Care Approach

Boling Vision Center actively supports co-management arrangements across a wide range of service lines, and we tailor the shared-care model to the preferences and capabilities of the referring practice.

Optometric Co-Management

We have a long history of working collaboratively with optometrists across Northern Indiana, and we welcome co-management arrangements for cataract surgery, vision correction procedures, glaucoma monitoring, retinal care, and other services where optometric involvement in pre- and post-operative care is appropriate and beneficial to the patient.

For optometrists interested in establishing a co-management relationship, our team is happy to discuss the specific arrangements that work best for your practice and your patients.

Primary Care and Specialist Collaboration

For primary care physicians and medical specialists who refer patients for ophthalmic evaluation of systemic disease manifestations, including diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy, thyroid eye disease, and inflammatory conditions, we provide detailed, clinically relevant documentation that integrates with the broader picture of the patient's systemic health management.

We also proactively communicate when an eye examination reveals findings that may be relevant to a patient's systemic care, facilitating the kind of cross-disciplinary collaboration that leads to earlier diagnoses and better outcomes.

Surgical Co-Management

For referring providers who wish to remain involved in the pre- and post-operative care of patients undergoing surgery at Boling Vision Center, we support structured surgical co-management arrangements with clear delineation of responsibilities, consistent communication, and timely transfer of care documentation.

Communication Expectations

Clear, timely communication is the foundation of any successful co-management relationship, and we hold ourselves to specific standards in how we communicate with referring providers.

Initial Referral Acknowledgment

When a referral is received, our team acknowledges receipt and confirms scheduling with both the patient and the referring provider. For urgent referrals, this acknowledgment happens the same day.

Post-Visit Communication

Following every referred patient's appointment, our team sends a written summary to the referring provider that includes the clinical findings, diagnosis, recommended management plan, and any follow-up instructions. For straightforward evaluations, this communication is typically sent within one to two business days of the appointment.

Ongoing Updates

For patients undergoing a course of treatment or surgical care, we provide ongoing updates at meaningful clinical milestones, including pre-operative findings, surgical outcomes, and significant changes in the patient's condition or management plan.

Direct Provider Communication

When a case involves findings of immediate clinical significance or requires urgent coordination, we contact the referring provider directly by phone rather than relying on written documentation alone. We never leave a referring provider uninformed about a development that affects their patient's broader care.

Turnaround Times

We understand that referring providers and their patients depend on timely access to specialist care and prompt communication of results. Our standard turnaround commitments are as follows:

Appointment scheduling: Routine referrals are typically scheduled within a timeframe appropriate to the clinical urgency. Urgent referrals are scheduled the same day or next business day whenever possible.
Post-visit documentation: Written communication of findings and recommendations is sent to the referring provider within one to two business days of the appointment for routine cases, and the same day for urgent evaluations.
Surgical outcomes communication: Written documentation of surgical findings and post-operative management plans is sent to the referring provider within two to three business days of the procedure.
Urgent findings: Clinically significant findings requiring immediate attention are communicated to the referring provider by phone the same day, regardless of when written documentation follows.

If you have specific turnaround expectations or communication preferences, please let our referral specialist know, and we will do our best to accommodate them.

A Mutually Respectful Process

A strong referral relationship is built on more than efficient logistics. It is built on the confidence that comes from knowing your patients are in good hands, that your role in their care is respected, and that the practice you're referring to operates with the same standards of professionalism and integrity that you do.

At Boling Vision Center, we approach every referring relationship with that standard in mind. We are straightforward about what we can and cannot offer, honest about clinical findings even when the news is difficult, and consistent in how we represent the referring relationship to shared patients.

We never undermine a referring provider's relationship with their patient, and we never present our involvement in a patient's care in a way that diminishes the value of the patient's relationship with their primary eye care or medical provider. That respect is not a courtesy. It is a core part of how we practice.

Why Partner With Boling Vision Center?

Boling Vision Center offers referring providers a partner with the clinical depth, diagnostic technology, and full-spectrum surgical capability to handle whatever their patients need, combined with the communication standards and genuine collaborative spirit that make a referral relationship worth building.

With four Northern Indiana locations, an on-site Joint Commission-certified surgery center, and over 65 years of trusted community care, we are the ophthalmic partner Northern Indiana providers rely on for the cases that matter most. Amazing happens here.

Physician Collaboration Frequently Asked Questions

How do I establish a co-management relationship with Boling Vision Center?

Contact our dedicated referral specialist to start the conversation. We're happy to discuss the specific arrangements that work best for your practice, answer any questions about our co-management protocols, and set up the communication channels that support a smooth working relationship from the start.

Can I specify how I want to receive post-visit communication?

Yes. We are flexible in how we deliver documentation to referring providers and can accommodate preferences for fax, secure electronic communication, or other formats. Let our referral specialist know your preferred method, and we will set that up before your first referral is processed.

What happens if a referred patient needs ongoing care beyond the original referral scope?

We communicate that need to the referring provider directly and discuss the most appropriate path forward. We do not unilaterally expand the scope of a referral without informing the referring provider, and we always aim to keep the referring relationship intact unless the clinical circumstances clearly indicate otherwise.

Do you co-manage postoperative cataract and vision-correction patients with optometrists?

Yes. We have established co-management protocols for cataract surgery and vision correction procedures and welcome optometric involvement in pre- and post-operative care where appropriate. Contact our referral specialist to discuss the specifics of how co-management works for each procedure type.

What if I have a concern about how a referred patient's case was handled?

Please contact us directly. We take feedback from referring providers seriously and are committed to addressing any concerns promptly and professionally. Our goal is a referral relationship built on trust, and we welcome the conversations that help us maintain and improve that standard.