Getting Started with ONIN Referrals
ONIN referrals run through the OceanMD Provider Network — the same secure, PHIPA-compliant platform used by MDs and NPs across Ontario.
This ensures your referrals are recognized within the provincial system, regulatory-compliant, and ready for future integration with electronic health records.Using OceanMD isn’t just about convenience — it’s what makes effective collaboration and a seamless patient experience possible.
Referrals flow directly between providers, minimizing faxing, delays, and communication gaps, while setting NDs up for inclusion in future interoperability initiatives.
Before you Begin: Complete the ONIN Foundation Courses
Before submitting your first referral through ONIN, please ensure you’ve completed the Referral Foundations and Medication Foundations courses.
These brief sessions are designed to help you understand how referrals and delegated care must be structured within Ontario’s regulatory framework, ensuring your practice remains compliant with the RHPA and the College of Naturopaths of Ontario Standards of Practice.
Completing these modules will help you:These foundation courses are required for all NDs using ONIN referrals to ensure consistent, compliant, and collaborative care across the network.
Use the referral system effectively and efficiently.
Understand what documentation and consents are required.
Know when co-management or delegation is appropriate.
Reduce errors and delays in booking or processing.
These foundation courses are required for all NDs using ONIN referrals to ensure consistent, compliant, and collaborative care across the network.
Step 1 — Create Your OceanMD Account (Free)
1) Go to OceanMD Sign Up.
2) Complete the sign-up form as follows:
Why are you signing up? → Select I want to access free clinical resources.
Clinic/Organization Name → Enter your clinic name.
Which OceanMD products? → Check Ocean Provider Network.
What EMR are you using? → Select your EMR or Other/Non-Integrated.
User Role → Clinician.
Province → Ontario.
3) You’ll receive confirmation once your account is active (can take up to 10 days).
While waiting, you can still send ONIN referrals using our web form.
Refer Patients (General)Refer Patients (HPV Screen)
4) Once you have approval, when you login to OceanMD, you will need to first add ONIN as a proferred collaborator.
a) Login to Ocean and access the Menu.
b) Click on HealthMap.
c) Search for Ontario Naturopathic Integrative Network
d) Mark as a favourite provider.
Click here for Detailed Guidance
You are now set up for eReferrals. Select Ontario Naturopathic Integrative Network and select "Send eReferrals".
Step 2 — Complete and Upload Your Referral
When submitting a referral:
Fill out all fields clearly to prevent booking delays. Ensure you provide relevant history and
Use the secure upload to include required documents (see below).
Once received, both you and your patient will get an email confirmation.
Referral Forms and ResourcesPlease fill out the referral form as completely as possible to avoid delays in patient booking. Include relevant documents via secure upload to verify consent for referral and email communication and to assist in verifying the need for referral. Details regarding the types of documents needed in the referral include:
- Consent for email communication with ONIN (required)
- Consent for Assessment, Integrative Therapy or Participation in care (for delegations) as appropriate (required)
- Relevant lab assessments or imaging reports
- Pathology reports
- Your consult notes
- Specialist consult notes
- Or other documents as required
Next Steps: Referral Booking
Once you have submitted your patient referral and supporting documents you and your patient will receive confirmation of receipt via email. Your patient will be contacted by ONIN reception staff to set up a time and review costs for their appointment. Once the appointment is booked both you and your appointment will receive an email confirming the timing.
Please note that consults range in price based on the services referred for. In general, patient fees are:
Assessment consults
$70-$135
This depends on the number and type of assessments being referred for.
Delegation consults
$135-200
This depends on the number and type of delegations being referred for.
Medication consults
$200
For Integrative therapy (medication) consults.
For multiple types of services in one referral there may be additional costs. Your patient will be informed about these costs prior to the consultation.
***New*** HPV Cervical Screening Referral Booking
Naturopathic doctors can now refer for HPV based cervical cancer screening. The billing for HPV based cervical cancer screening is different than other ONIN referrals to minimize the patient effort and confusion. When a patient has been seen by the ONIN NP provider and has an HPV cervical screen assessment ordered, billing for both the visit and the test will be made out to the provider referring for the test and performing the procedure. The referring provider will then bill the patient for these costs as part of the screening procedure.
HPV Cervical Screening
$50 for NP consult
HPV testing: OHIP covered when indicated. Uninsured cost is $100.
Provider will be billed for the above and will bill the patient. Please note that once HPV screening is covered by OHIP there will be no fee for HPV testing component of this service.
Post Visit
After your patient has completed their visit, they will receive treatment and/or assessment instructions. The referring provider (you) will receive a copy of the consult notes which will include the encounter note with prescribed assessments or therapies described along with any other supporting documents (e.g. delegation forms) as would be appropriate.
Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your referral please reach out to customer service at info@onin.ca
Email info@onin.ca to request an upgrade to your monthly membership
