CONNECT Referral System
Connecting Service Providers Throughout Montana
CONNECT is a bidirectional referral network that allows client contact information to be sent between service providers. The secure web-based system is available at no cost to approved organizations that make client referrals. The goal of CONNECT is to reduce common barriers for external referrals and increase client uptake in services. The system closes the loop in care coordination.
CONNECT bridges the gap between clinical and social service supports with a 90% connection to care rate.
Close to 5,000 referrals have been sent using CONNECT
Why is care coordination important?
"Closing the loop" is a term that describes a well-functioning coordinated care delivery system. It implies that information flows easily during a referral – the referring service provider is able to let the recipient provider know the pertinent information about the client being referred, and the recipient can let the referring provider know the opinions and recommendations that result from the referral. It's a two-way "loop."
FAQs
- How much does it cost to sign up for CONNECT?
No, there is no charge to sign up for CONNECT. - How much time does it take to send a referral using CONNECT?
From start to finish, the entire process takes no more than a couple short minutes. The steps are simple, and the system is easy to navigate, so the more you use CONNECT, the faster the entire process becomes. - Who can see which referrals have been sent and received?
To protect the privacy of our subjects in the system, only the sending and receiving agency can view the referrals that have been made between them. - What if the recipient provider doesn't pick up the referral right away?
The system tracks referrals from the moment they're sent, providing real-time updates for the sending provider to monitor along the way. The system sends an auto-generated email to the agency's gatekeeper when an incoming referral arrives, alerting that person or persons that they should log in and work with the referral. In the unlikely event that a referral is not acted upon in a timely manner, the recommended action is to reach out to the person via phone or email to see what might be causing the delay. - What technical safeguards are put into place by Noble Software Group to ensure the protection of the data within CONNECT?
You can view the statement from Noble here: Technical Safeguards - Does Noble Software Group have a plan for what to do in the event of a security or service disruption?
Absolutely. You can view the statement from Noble here:
Noble Policy – Security and Service Disruption Events
Joe Tabler, a clinical pharmacist at Logan Health in Kalispell Montana, and Alison Fuller, a CONNECT specialist from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services share their experience using CONNECT, a bidirectional referral system that connects patients with community-based organizations and services to address health-related social needs while improving health outcomes and equity for patients at Logan Health. Recorded by Mountain Pacific on January 2, 2025, as part of the Regional Chronic Disease Collaborative.
Partner Spotlight: Logan Health - CONNECT Bidirectional Referral System
- Free to Use
- Referrals Take Only a Couple of Minutes
- Simple System & Easy to Navigate
- Privacy Compliant
- HIPPA
- FERPA
- 42CFR
- IDEA
- Efficient Referral Process
- Reduce Duplication of Services
- Prevent Unnecessary Referrals
- Improve Health Outcomes
- Track Client Progress
Please send us a note using the form below to help us grow our referral network across Montana.
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Interested in joining CONNECT?
Simply contact our DPHHS CONNECT team – we will answer your questions, walk you through the brief on-boarding process and provide training and ongoing technical support to your agency’s users.