Honestly for myself I think I see a doctor once a year - my GP for my annual blood work and script for a mammogram. Now for my children I have changed pediatricians every couple of years, usually because of the unavailability of appointments within a reasonable time. Also I have done the rounds with dermatologists for them. Once I find a new doctor I just send in the form to have the records sent - unless I am specifically asked I offer no explanation.
I cried when we left our pediatrician. He was/is an awesome guy who got us through a lot of stuff, but S1 moved to CA and S2 decided he needed to see an internist. We followed him to a new practice when the first one went belly-up.
I left my first onc. Never said anything. I have been with my second one for ten years, but I dread if I ever wind up in the hospital, as she does not have admitting privileges here (she’s in Baltimore). My primary and cardiologist don’t have privileges at our nearby hospital, either, but they are in DC at least. Have been with my dentist, eye doc and OB-GYN for 20 years, too – most of my docs are around my age. I dread when they decide to start retiring.
A request for records and a neutral note are fine, though.
DS switched eye docs because he moved. Then he moved back…so he returned to the first doc. Then DS moved again…and switched again. Never was a problem. He simply requested that his records be sent to a new place. Our eye doc has electronic medical records, so it was easy peasy. And because they are electronic, the old doc retains the records as well.
The trick will be finding a new doctor.
Some offices have that policy. It’s possible she was just informing you of an office policy.
Physician here. No big deal. Get your records- it is always nice to have your own copy. Choose another practice and have your records sent. To all- NEVER stay with any physician whose practice bothers you. Of course, this does not mean doctor shopping until you find someone who agrees with you- you could be wrong.
You can use the line from The Simpsons, “Welcome to Splitsville. Population - YOU!”
It IS good to know the MD’s policy. As the staff member told you that the doc doesn’t take patients back, it’s important to know, as some folks just switch because of convenience (when they move or closer to work or whatever) and hope to return if the situation allows.
I have switched multiple docs. Each of my kids saw quite a few allergists (maybe over 6) before we found the allergist we have now been with for over 15 years. Similarly, have been through 6 pulmonologists, a few cardiologists and a surgeon and 2 OB/GYNs, as well as 2 pediatricians. The docs I have now I have had for about 15 years and we get along quite well. I will be sad when they retire or can no longer meet my and our family’s needs. Most of them are in their 50s and 60s, so I am not sure how much longer they will be practicing.
I am very concerned that there aren’t too many young docs in our state to replace our aging docs (not only in HI but many other places in the US as well). On Bogleheads.org, I keep reading about young docs looking to retire early, in their 40s or 50s if they can. It’s very troubling and have heard a lot of friends having a hard time finding a good internist and other physicians. I hope my docs will refer me to new physicians when they finally retire, but am dreading the changes and getting used to new MDs. . I am fortunate to have a BCBS PPO that is accepted throughout most of our state and will have this policy for the rest of my life (I believe).
No you won’t, hopefully- because that means you don’t plan to live past turning 65. Once you turn 65 you will have Medicare and then perhaps you will keep the same insurance company for your supplemental insurance. H is facing that this spring. I keep a COBRA for our retirement policy in his name and he needs to figure the best plan cost and services for him. It will be interesting to see if the current company wins his business.
Actually, I don’t HAVE to buy Medicare under our current BCBS, though H and I plan that we both will (he has it and I plan to get it). Our policy is supposed to be available to us until we both die, and we pay our 1/3 and H’s former employer pays the rest of our premium. If my parents are any gauge, I will likely live a few decades past qualifying for Medicare. ;).
Perhaps the shortage of primary care physicians may be due to the fact that medical school has gotten so expensive. A new MD with $300,000 in medical school debt may find it difficult to pay off the debt on the pay level in a primary care specialty.
I think it’s also that MANY MDs are encouraging their kids to go into other professions. I know 3 MDs who encouraged their kids to become PAs and NOT MDs. They feel that the stress, loans, paperwork, headaches, liability insurance, and everything else makes it NOT worth it to become MDs.
One MD/MD couple does have one child who is in med school and does plan to become an MD. One MD does have a D who graduated as a podiatrist because the podiatrist she shadowed convinced her that he has a much less stressful and better work/life balance than her MD dad.
We are having a tough time with enough specialists as well. There are very few young specialists graduating and returning to HI to fill holes being left as the many, many aging MDs are retiring or switching to part-time or lower workloads. Quite a few of the specialists decide to become hospitalists, so they can have a better (hopefully) work/life balance.
And why become a primary care physician at $200k/year, when you can specialize for $400k/year?
My son is a recent graduate of a PA program. When they surveyed his class as to how many wanted to go into primary care, less than 10% raised their hand. PAs were created to ease the burden of primary care, but now, even they can specialize. My son works for a neurosurgery practice.
D is ending her 3rd yr of med school in April. She has agonized and researched/talked with and ect. what to seek.
In the end, her close to $300.000 in loans is weighing in heavily.
As much as I encourage her to follow her passion–well, one leaves her in long term debt and the other is a high earner.
It is too bad that this country knows it needs Health Practicioners of every walk and still makes it so expensive that smart and cleaver people do not see it as meaningful.
All my relatives are specialists because it allows them to have a work-life balance they prefer. As you say, our country sorely needs more generalists and internists and pediatricians. Can’t they get loan forgiveness by working for underserved areas and nonprofits for a period of time like other folks? I know that is why some have chosen to work for nonprofits, in addition to believing in the mission. Yes, 6 figure debt is a heavy burden and scary, even though MDs CAN make pretty significant salaries.
And the federal government thinks the way to cut Medicare costs is to yet again decrease reimbursements to physicians. Instead they ought to ration care by not paying for every treatment imaginable and at every age. Some reality checking needed. Just because it can be done does not mean it should be done. Also there are the physicians with lucrative nonessential practices- such as so much noninsured plastic surgery. And those few who find ways to skirt laws to make more money. We (still) need Utopia.
Can we get back to the OP and her problem? I think the best answer I heard was a nice note saying that you’ve decided to go to a different practice (no explanation) and a sincere thank you for past service. I’ve never had a doctor that I’ve stayed with for more than a few years so I haven’t had that problem.
Just slip out the back, Jack. Make a new plan, Stan.
I am not the person who enjoys change. (quelle surprise)" Same hairdresser for 22 years…I would have stayed with my original hairdresser but he died of AIDS. previous hairdresser was the Pagano/Peters family…(first hair cut to going out of business Eyedoctor…45 years…nail salon…40 years… dermatology office…age 11 on (as one retired I liked the replacement…My ob/gyn died of cancer far too young. I miss him.
I have been working on a note and looking up the referrals…I am, in the end fairly fortunate. I have gone to professionals whom I have trusted, and they returned the compliment by giving great surface…