Terminating a Patient: Is It Time to Part Ways?
Abstract
Many family physicians chose the specialty of family medicine because of the value placed on the therapeutic relationship between the patient and the physician. When that relationship is significantly or repeatedly challenged, family physicians feel it deeply, and it’s not always clear how best to address the problem.
We have found that, when emotions are high, having a standardized process for dealing with these challenges makes it easier to take appropriate action. Our process provides patients with plenty of opportunities to reconsider their behavior and re-engage in the relationship, when appropriate, and it provides the physician and staff the assurance that comes with following a reasoned, consistent approach when difficult circumstances arise. If it becomes necessary to terminate the relationship, our approach describes how to do it without running afoul of payers’ guidelines.
While our system is not perfect, it has significantly improved our ability to set expectations and draw boundaries in an environment where some payers have very narrowly defined the circumstances under which termination is acceptable. The flow charts in this article are based on ones we have used with success in our health system. You can download them below and adapt them for use in your practice.
RPR Commentary
Guidance from Family Practice Management on when and how to dismiss a patient from your practice. James W. Mold, MD, MPH