Most physicians know the requirements that must be met when terminating the doctor-patient relationship. The requirements must be satisfied to avoid a charge of abandonment with a medical board.
You must give the patient sufficient time to find another doctor. The language often reads as “we remain available to treat you for urgent or emergent conditions related to our specialty for 30 days or until you find another physician, whichever comes first.”
There are rare exceptions. If you are the only person who performs pediatric oncology in a geographic area of 100 miles, you may need to reasonably provide a longer runway.
And make sure the patient has sufficient refills of medications for that 30 day window.
Note, if the patient terminates the doctor-patient relationship, you merely need to document that. You do not need to provide that 30 day runway.
Next, you need to state you will make records available to the new physician upon the patient’s signed authorization.
And finally, you must provide a limited roadmap for finding a new physician. Such as directing them to County Medical Society website. Or their insurance network. Etc.
Now, what else?
Often forgotten is removing this individual from your marketing campaigns.
When a patient receives a letter terminating the doctor-patient relationship, they may feel angry. If they keep receiving bi-weekly marketing messages as to how wonderful you are, they may lash out. On the internet.
Stop reminding them.
So, the final item on your list is to remove their name from your prospective marketing campaigns. It’s an item that is often forgotten.
Make sure it gets done.
What do you think?
Jeff, let me state that while it might be satisfying to “fire” a patient, it maybe better to calm down, take a deep breath and to think it thru. Patients come to us in pain. Confused. Angry about the possibility of disease and how serious it could be. Lots of fear and poor coping mechanisms. Some are just plain jerks. I get it. I wonder if it is better to just refer them out. Be creative in the suggestion. Avoid the confrontations. Take a moment to appreciate the patient’s journey. Less risk. Take the high road and you wont see the awful evaluations on Google.
Richard B Willner
The Center for Peer Review Justice
http://www.PeerReviewJustice.org
When I was in practice I’d have patient’s referred to me for consultation.
If I found nothing objectively wrong with them I’d say that to the referring physician.
I’d tell them that while I could not find anything they’re family doc could refer them on to someone else who perhaps could.
So many patients were drug seeking. It was just sad.
Just a lesson learned “the hard way”. Despite the patient’s spouse waiving the termination notice in my secretary’s face, the plaintiff alleged, under oath, that they did not receive the notice. The cost of “abandonment” was a settlement of $3500. Registered mail is a bit less costly.