Patient notification of a physician's departure from the practice is often an issue of contention and dispute. Here are tips on how and when to communicate the big change to patients, staff, and referring physicians. MedTwitter
An issue that many physicians and healthcare organizations struggle with is how and when to inform patients of a physician's departure from a medical practice or hospital. Although every organization has its own approach, and some states have specific legal guidelines that need to be followed, patient notification is often an issue of contention and dispute.
In my experience, this can leave patients and referral sources feeling abandoned and disgruntled. In some situations, patients are not told of a physician's departure until after a physician actually has left. This may mean that the patient was scheduled to see the physician on a date beyond which the employer knew the physician would be available.
Even though most physicians are greatly concerned about patient notification, they must also recognize that an employer does have some right to control the notification process in terms of the message and timing, and often this right is contractual. Moreover, making sure the physician stays busy through his or her last day is not an unreasonable business goal, especially where a physician is paid based on production.
A notice sent via email/portal and shared with patients at a visit or when scheduling an appointment is very effective. Allowing physicians to inform patients personally can also work well, depending on the physician, type of practice, specialty, and other factors. Some physicians want patients to be told but do not want to handle the process themselves because it may interfere with a tight clinic schedule or lead to questions they are unable to answer .
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