PCP Changing Location

[Darcy03231]

I'd transfer. I love my dr., but I'm only usually there once a year for a physical. 50 miles is too far if you get sick. Also, if there's an emergency and I have to go to the local hospital, I'd want my own dr. and not just the one at the hospital who doesn't know me or my history.

 

[neverlandsky]

Closer just in case were admitted to the local hospital.

 

[GreatLakes]

I'd transfer. I love my dr., but I'm only usually there once a year for a physical. 50 miles is too far if you get sick. Also, if there's an emergency and I have to go to the local hospital, I'd want my own dr. and not just the one at the hospital who doesn't know me or my history.

Closer just in case were admitted to the local hospital.

I have a question about this. If you are in the hospital wouldn't they contact your PCP electronically or by phone? I don't think my PCP would ever be the doctor attending me in the hospital. If I am at the hospital it is an emergency, I don't want them to wait for my PCP to show up and medical records are easily sharable nowadays.

 

[Micca]

If you stick with your current doc, you may want to consider if "Urgent Care" facilities are near you. There are just going to be some issues where making a 100 mile roundtrip is going to make the problem worse.

 

[dclpluto]

50 miles would be too far for me to continue with a PCP. That is assuming there are other PCP in your area taking new patients. And I can't imagine why a Doctor would move his practice that far from his patients.

could be because of $$$$$
Could be he is moving closer to family
Might like the area better than where he’s at
Spouse might of got a job in that area and they want to move.
so many reasons it could be.

 

[DLgal]

This literally happened to me. I chose another doctor at the practice. 50 miles is WAY too far to go for primary care.

 

[tvguy]

I don’t know the whole story but it’s possible that the doctor had a non-compete that required him to move away/practice a certain number of miles away if he left his current practice.

Wow, I didn't realize non-competes were still legal in some states.

 

[starry_solo]

Wow, I didn't realize non-competes were still legal in some states.

Of course they are. They have to meet certain requirements to be legal.

But back to the original question, it would depend on how long I've been with the PCP, how often I see him or her, etc.

I go to a dentist 30 miles away and have done so for many many years because I've never found a good one close by

 

[disney-inspired]

It would depend on how often I have to visit the PCP.
I have a quarterly follow up with my oncological surgeon and it's a bit of a trek but knowing I only need to see him every 3 months is easier for me. I really appreciated his help throughout my cancer journey so have kept him instead of transferring to a closer oncologist near home.

I have an autoimmune disorder that surfaced last year so having a local GP and specialist within 15 minutes was important and thankfully they're within network. If they moved, I would find another one nearby.

 

[tvguy]

Of course they are. They have to meet certain requirements to be legal.

Non-competes have been illegal in California for decades. Used to be used in TV.

 

[starry_solo]

Non-competes have been illegal in California for decades. Used to be used in TV.

They are allowed in CA in very limited circumstances. Never between an employer and an employee, but in sales of businesses, dissolutions of partnerships, etc.

CA B&P Code 16601:
Any person who sells the goodwill of a business, or any owner of a business entity selling or otherwise disposing of all of his or her ownership interest in the business entity, or any owner of a business entity that sells (a) all or substantially all of its operating assets together with the goodwill of the business entity, (b) all or substantially all of the operating assets of a division or a subsidiary of the business entity together with the goodwill of that division or subsidiary, or (c) all of the ownership interest of any subsidiary, may agree with the buyer to refrain from carrying on a similar business within a specified geographic area in which the business so sold, or that of the business entity, division, or subsidiary has been carried on, so long as the buyer, or any person deriving title to the goodwill or ownership interest from the buyer, carries on a like business therein.

CA B&P 16602:
(a) Any partner may, upon or in anticipation of any of the circumstances described in subdivision (b), agree that he or she will not carry on a similar business within a specified geographic area where the partnership business has been transacted, so long as any other member of the partnership, or any person deriving title to the business or its goodwill from any such other member of the partnership, carries on a like business therein.
(b) Subdivision (a) applies to either of the following circumstances:
(1) A dissolution of the partnership.
(2) Dissociation of the partner from the partnership.

CA B&P 16602.5:
Any member may, upon or in anticipation of a dissolution of, or the termination of his or her interest in, a limited liability company (including a series of a limited liability company formed under the laws of a jurisdiction recognizing such a series), agree that he or she or it will not carry on a similar business within a specified geographic area where the limited liability company business has been transacted, so long as any other member of the limited liability company, or any person deriving title to the business or its goodwill from any such other member of the limited liability company, carries on a like business therein.

 

[tvguy]

They are allowed in CA in very limited circumstances. Never between an employer and an employee, but in sales of businesses, dissolutions of partnerships, etc.

CA B&P Code 16601:
Any person who sells the goodwill of a business, or any owner of a business entity selling or otherwise disposing of all of his or her ownership interest in the business entity, or any owner of a business entity that sells (a) all or substantially all of its operating assets together with the goodwill of the business entity, (b) all or substantially all of the operating assets of a division or a subsidiary of the business entity together with the goodwill of that division or subsidiary, or (c) all of the ownership interest of any subsidiary, may agree with the buyer to refrain from carrying on a similar business within a specified geographic area in which the business so sold, or that of the business entity, division, or subsidiary has been carried on, so long as the buyer, or any person deriving title to the goodwill or ownership interest from the buyer, carries on a like business therein.

CA B&P 16602:
(a) Any partner may, upon or in anticipation of any of the circumstances described in subdivision (b), agree that he or she will not carry on a similar business within a specified geographic area where the partnership business has been transacted, so long as any other member of the partnership, or any person deriving title to the business or its goodwill from any such other member of the partnership, carries on a like business therein.
(b) Subdivision (a) applies to either of the following circumstances:
(1) A dissolution of the partnership.
(2) Dissociation of the partner from the partnership.

CA B&P 16602.5:
Any member may, upon or in anticipation of a dissolution of, or the termination of his or her interest in, a limited liability company (including a series of a limited liability company formed under the laws of a jurisdiction recognizing such a series), agree that he or she or it will not carry on a similar business within a specified geographic area where the limited liability company business has been transacted, so long as any other member of the limited liability company, or any person deriving title to the business or its goodwill from any such other member of the limited liability company, carries on a like business therein.

I guess the difference would be if this was an employee/employer relationship. My Doctors are all employees of Medical Groups. Last Doctor I had who was in Private Practice was my Pediatrician, that that was over 50 years ago. Are Private practices still common where you live?

 

[JLemaire7]

Wow, I didn't realize non-competes were still legal in some states.

In some states, yes.

 

[disneychrista]

Change. Unless I had major, ongoing medical issues and changing might affect my treatment.

 

[Darcy03231]

I have a question about this. If you are in the hospital wouldn't they contact your PCP electronically or by phone? I don't think my PCP would ever be the doctor attending me in the hospital. If I am at the hospital it is an emergency, I don't want them to wait for my PCP to show up and medical records are easily sharable nowadays.

While I wouldn't wait on my PCP in the case of an emergency, if I ended up being hospitalized for any period of time I would want my PCP to be able to manage my care while I was in the hospital. If you use a PCP/hospital system that is different than your local one your PCP may not have privileges at the local hospital.

 

[tvguy]

While I wouldn't wait on my PCP in the case of an emergency, if I ended up being hospitalized for any period of time I would want my PCP to be able to manage my care while I was in the hospital. If you use a PCP/hospital system that is different than your local one your PCP may not have privileges at the local hospital.

I was surprised when my mom got ill in 2012, her PCP physician, had nothing to do with her care. They have "Hospitalists" Doctors that work exclusively in the hospital and manage the care of all patients in the hospital. While the PCP got regular updates, she only saw my mom after she was discharged from the hospital.

 

[Darcy03231]

I was surprised when my mom got ill in 2012, her PCP physician, had nothing to do with her care. They have "Hospitalists" Doctors that work exclusively in the hospital and manage the care of all patients in the hospital. While the PCP got regular updates, she only saw my mom after she was discharged from the hospital.

Last time I was in the hospital while the "hospitalist" was in charge of managing my care in the hospital, he did it in conjunction with my PCP. PCP came in to see me every day, and both he and the hospitalist discussed what they were going to do with me.

 

[RogueX]

For me, it really would depend. I actually travel 65 miles to my headache specialist because over the course of several years, 10 neurologists deemed that they couldn't find a way to bring my migraines below a 6 on the pain scale. I'm down to a 1 on some days and even pain free, thanks to this guy.

My PCP has been great at advocating for me when I've been dismissed by others...this is very important.

 

[Darcy03231]

For me, it really would depend. I actually travel 65 miles to my headache specialist because over the course of several years, 10 neurologists deemed that they couldn't find a way to bring my migraines below a 6 on the pain scale. I'm down to a 1 on some days and even pain free, thanks to this guy.

My PCP has been great at advocating for me when I've been dismissed by others...this is very important.

I'd definitely travel for a specialist. Just not a PCP. I had to have eye surgery and live in a small town in central NH. I ended up going to Boston (over two hours away) for a specialist to do the surgery and follow-ups. I only go once a year now so not it's not too bad.

 

[sam_gordon]

Non-competes have been illegal in California for decades. Used to be used in TV.

Wait, you mean things aren't done the same as in California? Who knew?