What does an "In Progress" referral indicate about the patient's treatment journey?

An "In Progress" referral signifies that the patient is currently awaiting care from the referred provider. This status indicates that the referral process is active, and the patient has not yet completed the necessary steps to access services from the specialist or provider they were referred to. During this phase, efforts may still be ongoing to schedule an appointment or facilitate the transfer of care, demonstrating that the patient is in transition toward receiving needed treatment or consultation.

This context helps clarify why other options do not accurately represent the meaning of "In Progress." A completed referral would indicate that all steps have been finalized, such as the patient seeing the referred provider, while a canceled referral means the patient will not pursue care as initially planned. A denied referral, on the other hand, indicates that the request has been formally rejected and thus would not remain in an "In Progress" status.