The Medical Board of California states that in order to avoid allegations that a patient is abandoned without a resource for continued health care, it is the standard of care in the community to notify your patients in writing when you wish to discontinue care. It is important to follow these guidelines:
- Tell the patient the last day your practice will be available to render medical care.
- Assure the patient that you will provide at least 15 days of emergency treatment and prescriptions before discontinuing your availability.
- Provide the patient with alternative sources for medical care, i.e., refer the patient to the patients' insurance company's list or to a medical society's referral service. Another option is to refer the patient to a local hospital physician referral service.
- Provide the patient with information necessary to obtain his/her medical record which you compiled during care - whom to contact, how, where, etc.
We also recommend that you send any written correspondence about discontinuing care via certified mail with a return receipt.
The Risk Management & Patient Safety Department has prepared a template letter and guidelines to assist you in this process. Contact the Risk Management Hotline at 800-252-0555, or your Risk Management Specialist to obtain these important forms.
Authored by
Ann Whitehead, RN, JD
CAP Risk Management & Patient Safety Department
If you have questions about this article, please contact us. This information should not be considered legal advice applicable to a specific situation. Legal guidance for individual matters should be obtained from a retained attorney.