How to use 360x | Patient Referrals | UC Davis Health

Direct Secure Messaging (DSM) and 360X operate on the same foundational pathway: both use direct addresses to transmit referral information between Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems. However, they differ significantly in functionality and capability.

DSM Referrals

Direct messaging represents the standard referral workflow:

• Referral information is securely sent between organizations
• Communication is generally considered complete once the referral is delivered

There is no built-in mechanism to track referral progress, confirm receipt beyond basic delivery or support ongoing communication between sending and receiving organizations.

360X Referrals

360X uses the same Direct Address pathway but adds enhanced capabilities — most notably, “closed-loop” communication.

This enables secure, structured exchanges between EHR systems after the initial referral is sent, including:

• Referral status updates
• Requests for additional information
• Confirmation of next steps

These capabilities help improve:

• Care coordination
• Communication between organizations
• Referring provider satisfaction

UC Davis Health’s Current Approach

UC Davis Health currently supports DSM referrals and is actively seeking partners to pilot 360X to enable enhanced, closed-loop referral communication.