Problem
Social Security Policy requires a Medical Consultant or Psychiatric Consultant (MC/PC) to review and sign most disability cases. MC/PCs are usually retired doctors that are now working “part-time”. They have vast medical knowledge but have limited tech knowledge. They work with Disability Examiners, who are employees of the DDS sites whose job is to review and make decisions on disability cases. MC/PCs and DEs both have Supervisors who oversee the employees.
User Needs
MC/PCS need to be able to view assigned work work, communicate with Disability Examiners (DEs), and get additional work. DEs need to request work from MC/PCs and communicate with MC/PCs. Supervisors need to be able to assign work to the MC/PCs.
The Solution: MC/PC Referrals
The feature area of functionality of MC/PC Referrals were created to allow DEs to request work and communicate with MC/PCs. While MC/PCs are able to view their assigned work, communicate with DEs and access aditional work. Supervisors are able to assign work to the MC/PCs. Additional functionality has been added since MC/PC Referrals creation in 2017. These include Re-Review Referrals, which is when a referral is sent back to an MC/PC for additional information; Edit Referral, which is when a referral is edited after creation; and adding additional ways for a referral to be assigned to an MC/PC.
User Feedback
Enjoy a collection of actual quotes from users regarding Referrals.
“I like it much better than AS400 [Legacy System]. It’s much easier to find things.” Usability Evaluation Participant during 2018 Usability Evaluations
“More comfortable with the DCPS way.” Usability Evaluation Participant during 2018 Usability Evaluations
“Speaking of life-changing helpful, I’m grateful for the ability to edit the referrals EVERY day. I want you to know the enhancements are so super-meaningful to us and thank you for the open ears!” Actual DCPS User during a Nationwide Community of Practice Call with over 100+ users in Spring 2024 after an Edit Referrals Enhancement was delivered
“EDIT REFERRALS has definitely been life changing!” Actual DCPS User during a Nationwide Community of Practice Call with over 100+ users in Spring 2024 after an Edit Referrals Enhancement was delivered
“Thank you. This Referral Edit Functionality will really help us. Thank you so much! Great job!” Actual DCPS User during a Product Increment System Demo
“So appreciate how responsive you’ve been to our requests. Thank you for helping make our jobs more efficient,” Actual DCPS User during a Nationwide Community of Practice Call with over 100+ users in Spring 2024 while showing Advanced Filters Enhancments
“I am really, tremendously excited about the rereview functionality! I think it will be a huge step forward for keeping the examiner referrals screen meaningful, avoiding erroneous assignments, eliminating a task and making it easier to see the progression of things on a case that needs to move back and forth multiple times!” Actual DCPS User after presentation of the Re-Reviews Design during a Nationwide Community of Practice Call with over 100+ users in Spring 2023
“This is going to be a HUGE help to examiners and MC managers! Thank you!” Actual DCPS User after presentation of the Re-Reviews Design during a Nationwide Community of Practice Call with over 100+ users in Spring 2023