Pediatrician Retires with NO NOTICE????

[Dancemom03]

I feel your frustration OP. Finding a new ped with other health issues happening at the same time can be a challenge.

DD9's dr is older, very experienced, absolutely wonderful, and has served as the head of ped dept at a large hospital. He casually told us last year as we chatted during an office visit that if/when the health care bill was enacted he'd probably retire. Since then, we've been keeping a copy of her ped records just in case.

We have copies of everyone's records from their GPs now after DD21's primary care dr retired last year too in anticipation of the proposed changes. I called one day to make an appt and was told she was gone. Boy did i feel out of touch Thankfully it was a larger practice unlike our ped's solitary practice. I figure either it means we're getting old or it's just the start of things to come for our family...

I hope you're able to get your DD's records without too much more frustration and she responds well to the coming treatment. Having a child with any sort of health issue is a stress that can take a toll on the best of folks - and that's before the bills arrive...

 

[phred52]

Through the years, I've had 2 doctors suddenly die. One was murdered, the other died of pancreatic cancer. Both times I was notified and records were made easily available. I'm sorry you have to scramble for your health records. Not fun.

 

[Michelle and crew]

Someone should have sent out a letter, and records dealt with. Without them people are screwed lots of the time. The need for lab results alone can cost a fortune to redo.

Being a professional means making sure that your i's are dotted and t's crossed. My dad the doc would be telling me to start throwing around words like "abandonment' etc. Doctors aren't allowed to do that.

 

[Ceila]

Not everyone anticipates being yanked out of their lives. This child's surgery won't hinge on whether or not her medical record is complete. People in the third world get very serious and corrective surgeries with no medical files whatsoever. This is a bump in the road, not an obstacle.

Gee, no kidding. The whole point of an emergency plan is in case of an EMERGENCY...you know, something you DON'T expect to happen.

For a physician to leave his or her patients hanging is irresponsible, especially since a little pre-planning would take care of notifying those whom he/she treats.

It doesn't matter whether this child's surgery depends on the records...it DOES make things complicated for patients, and it COULD negatively affect a patient's care. Those possibilities are why the responsible thing to do is have a plan in place.