Lähete

Lähete is a Finnish term for a referral document used in health care. It is issued by a primary care physician or other health care professional to request evaluation, treatment, or diagnostics by another professional or unit, such as a medical specialist, a hospital department, a laboratory, or a rehabilitation service. A lähete typically contains the patient’s basic information, the reason for referral, relevant clinical findings, and any preferences or requirements concerning the destination or type of care.

In practice, lähette can be in paper form or electronic, and they are commonly transmitted through national health information systems. The document may indicate urgency, such as a routine versus an urgent referral, and often includes instructions for the receiving provider. The patient’s consent to share health information may also be required as part of the referral process.

A lähete plays a central role in Finland’s public health care framework, where access to specialized care and certain diagnostics is organized through referrals rather than direct self-referral. It is distinct from a prescription, which authorizes medication, and from a treatment plan, which outlines proposed care after evaluation. The lähete functions to connect care providers and coordinate the next steps in a patient’s health care pathway.

While primarily associated with medical referrals, the concept of lähete can also apply to other services within health and social care systems where a formal request to obtain services from another professional or unit is needed.