--- title: Electronic Referrals - What is a HISP and how does it work? description: What is a HISP and how does it relate to Welld? --- [Skip to content](https://support.welldhealth.com/what-is-a-hisp#main-content) English Show submenu for translations ![](https://support.welldhealth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/welld-logo-hor-circle_fill_tagline-RGB-1.png?width=400&height=137&name=welld-logo-hor-circle_fill_tagline-RGB-1.png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations Inside every problem lies an opportunity. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [The Welld Health Support Center](https://support.welldhealth.com/) 2. [Integrations](https://support.welldhealth.com/integrations) # Electronic Referrals - What is a HISP and how does it work? ## What is a HISP and how does it relate to Welld? A **Health Information Service Provider**, or **HISP**, is an accredited network service operator that enables nationwide clinical data exchange using Direct Secure Messaging (aka Direct, Direct Messaging, and the Direct Project).  For more detail on referral management and HISP see this PDF article: [Welld Health Referral Management](https://support.welldhealth.com/hubfs/Customer%20Support%20PDFs/Welld%20Health%20Referral%20Management.pdf) 1. **Share your WelldDirect address:**  Provide your referring providers with your new WelldDirect Address to set up in their Point of Care workflow for referrals. Their IT team is probably already familiar with Direct HISP but here is some information to describe the service and requirements. WelldDirect is a verified HISP in the DirectNetwork™. > What is a HISP? A Health Information Service Provider, or HISP, is an [accredited](https://www.directtrust.org/about-dtaap/) network service operator that enables nationwide clinical data exchange using [Direct Secure Messaging](https://datamotion.com/healthcare-solutions-direct-secure-messaging) (aka Direct, Direct Messaging, and the Direct Project). Direct™ is a HIPAA compliant and [interoperable](https://www.directtrust.org/interoperability-testing-matrices/) transport method promoted by the Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT of the US Department of Health and Human Services [(ONC/HHS)](https://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/directbasicsforprovidersqa_05092014.pdf). HISPs and Direct are regulated and monitored by [DirectTrust.org](https://www.directtrust.org/), a governance organization empowered by HHS. - **What is required from the referral partner:**  The EMR generating the referral **must** use the Direct HISP for transmitting referral data. *Sending the referral via secure email from just any email address will not work.* - **Set up the referral pathway:** Your clinical partner’s EMR can elect to transmit a variety of referral file types including” - **HTML embedded in the body of the referral message** → a formatted email message that the looks like a form for the clinician to fill out before sending) - **An attached pdf “image” of a referral** → looks very much like electronic faxed referrals) - **XML formatted [CCD](https://www.hl7.org/implement/standards/product_brief.cfm?product_id=6)** → is a specially formatted version of the health record of a patient that is the most comprehensive but could potentially contain more information than is needed. Welld does not open zip files and if you can not open the file in Referral Managment, please double check that your provider used XML format to attach the test referral How the sending EMR handles extra-clinical referrals will determine which format is used and how much data is shared. Sometimes, your partners will ask for input about what information is needed on the referral so your organization can provide services. Steps to transmit referrals: 1. **Send a test file:** Your referring partners will need to send a test file to the WelldDirect address provided to your organization. Be sure the test file is in the same format that real patient referrals will be sent and does not contain any ePHI. 2. **Be sure the format from your provider is in an XML format!** 3. **Confirm:** Login to Welld and make sure that the test file was received in the system and that the format of the referral is correct. 4. **Send Referrals!** Your clinical partner can now begin to send electronic referrals directly to you in Welld. 5. **\*\*Interoperability** - Bi-directional feedback option. If your clinical partner wishes to receive program progress updates via Direct, the EMR must allow inbound .pdf attachments to be transmitted to a specific provider’s inbox. ![](https://support.welldhealth.com/hubfs/Screenshot%202023-08-22%20at%203-39-45%20PM-png.png)  6.  **Are you using Sfax/Efax and will they look different than a HISP referral?** They can,  it depends on how the Health System sends the info.  If it's a PDF then it will look exactly the same. If they use the CCD then we can parse some of the data fields like the first and last name.  Was this article helpful? If you liked this article, give us a 'Yes' on the helpful article question below. If we're missing something, **please** give us a 'No' and tell us what we're missing. Believe us, this product only gets better based on your feedback! You'll be helping us help the rest of the country in improving the health of communities everywhere. - [Getting Started / The Basics](https://support.welldhealth.com/getting-started-the-basics#main-content) - [Getting into Welld](https://support.welldhealth.com/getting-started-the-basics#getting-into-welld) - [Welld Basics](https://support.welldhealth.com/getting-started-the-basics#welld-basics) - [Programs and the Program Engine](https://support.welldhealth.com/programs-and-the-program-engine#main-content) - [Managing Staff](https://support.welldhealth.com/programs-and-the-program-engine#managing-staff) - [MyWelld for Participants](https://support.welldhealth.com/mywelld-for-participants#main-content) - [Getting Started in MyWelld](https://support.welldhealth.com/mywelld-for-participants#getting-started-in-mywelld) - [MyWelld Enrollment page](https://support.welldhealth.com/mywelld-for-participants#mywelld-enrollment-page) - [Integrations](https://support.welldhealth.com/integrations) - [Check-in Reimbursement Programs (CHIRPs)](https://support.welldhealth.com/check-in-reimbursement-programs-chirps#main-content) - [CHIRPS 101](https://support.welldhealth.com/check-in-reimbursement-programs-chirps#chirps-101) - [CHIRPS Operations](https://support.welldhealth.com/check-in-reimbursement-programs-chirps#chirps-operations) - [CHIRPS Troubleshooting](https://support.welldhealth.com/check-in-reimbursement-programs-chirps#chirps-troubleshooting) - [CHIRPS Finance](https://support.welldhealth.com/check-in-reimbursement-programs-chirps#chirps-finance) [![Chill listening crop-3](https://support.welldhealth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/welld%20logo%20-%20circle.png?width=25&height=24&name=welld%20logo%20-%20circle.png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://welldhealth.com) Welld Health Support Center Copyright © 2026, Welld Health