Can you just for your doctor without telling them and never look back or do you need to offer an explanation?
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You don't need to say anything. Personally I would send an email saying something like "I have transferred my care to another provider." especially if this is an OB who may get concerned if you just stop showing up. You don't need to tell them why or give them a reason unless you want do do so.
Your new provider may need to obtain your medical records from your old one.
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If you don't have a contract with them and you aren't related to them, then go to a different practice. You don't have to offer an explanation unless you feel compelled to do so.
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My only thought would be that they can't fix the problem you might have if it's not brought to their attention - up to you though!
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If I didn't like them I would just leave and have my records transferred. If I liked them but felt they were not the right doctor for me I would probably tell them I decided on a new doctor. Either way I don't think you should feel obliged.
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I've changed several times throughout my adult life and just go to the new provider and have them request my records.
It's usually logistical, I used a dr near campus while I was in school, then near my apt, then near work, etc. and I never considered offering a reason.
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I have changed drs before and never told them I just found a new practice
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I changed doctors. When I called to have records transferred they were very snotty and rude. I didn't feel as though I owed them an explanation - especially after that! I would get there 15 min early, be in the waiting room for up to 30 min after my appt time, and another 30-45 min waiting for the dr in the room. Who has time for that?! Especially with a baby.
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You generally have to request your records so they figure it out that way. When we switched pediatricians we just requested to pick up lo's records and didn't do anything else.
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I never tell if I switch doctors. I just let them figure it out when the new office requests for records to be sent.
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The only time I gave a reason for switching doctors was when I was billed several times for the same visit. I paid it twice. Didn't get a refund, but at that point I thought I had not taken care of it. But, when it came up a third and fourth time I was done. Their resolutions were temporary and billing issues are embarassing. So I went elsewhere and told the front desk staff why.
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@sorrycharlie: one of the doctors I visited chastised me for coming in late and creating an avalanche effect for other patients. I could not believe her. We ended up both having to go to the sign up/ appointment window and i showed her how I actually arrived before my appointment time and waited and waited and waited. She apologized.
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I switched during my first pregnancy after I got new insurance and moved to a new city...I told the Dr at my last appointment and he was pretty rude.
The second time I switched after LO 1 was born. I just wanted to stick to the Dr who delivered LO 1 for my PP, prenatal care and scheduled C-section for LO 2.
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Call the office and have them fax your paperwork to another doctor. No biggie.
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If it were a big reason I would write a letter explaining my decision. In other situations though I just have my records sent to the new office and don't mention it. I have switched many times and I don't think anyone has ever asked why.
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For me it depeneds on why you're switching. Firing to me, at least, implies that there is some fundamental disagreement that can not be reconciled.
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I had to call the office to deactivate her account and to pay for them to transfer her files to the new ped. They didn't ask why I was moving, but if they had I would have told them.
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Long story short. This was my OB before I got pregnant with Zuma. He did not help me get pregnant although his nurse says he did. He prescribed me Clomid July, August, and September of 2012 and I got pregnant June 2013... so whatevs. I did not deliver with him, I went with my midwives. WHO I ADORE! Anyways fast forward to now, he prescribed me fertility meds and his nurse told me he wont give me any meds unless I agree to deliver with him. I have been to several appointments there since he prescribed (wasn't pregnant) but now I want to just leave for forever and not look back. Everytime I have gone to his office, even way before I got pregnant I would sit in the waiting room for over an hour. I get that emergencies happen, but every appointment? And when I need to talk to the OB or nurse I leave a message and don't hear back for freaking hours or even the next day sometimes. My hypochondria cant handle that. Anyways so I just want to go back to my midwives. And they do not deal with medical records.... so I can just disappear right??
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Also it doesn't make it easier that this OB is also my moms and little sisters Ob.... my family worships him!
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@anonysquire: you can leave and not look back, it's your choice! We left our first pediatrician because our views were not the same and we never felt we needed to tell her why.
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@anonysquire: Your midwives don't deal with medical records? That's quite odd, I've never known a midwife not to keep/require medical records for a pregnant patient.
Anyway, good luck with your switch! You don't owe the doctor an explanation if you don't want to give one. You hired him for a service, he's no different than a babysitter or an electrician. You decide when to hire and fire based on your own feelings. He can't do anything about it.
Honestly it's almost comical that they said if he prescribed you fertility meds you "had to agree to deliver with him".That's absurd, and unprofessional. He can't make that decision for you, that's a ridiculous overstep. I'd be firing him too.
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@Bao: phew, good! T hanks
@Arden: well I filled out many medical forms but I don't remember requesting records from my ob?
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@anonysquire: Last time did you go to them from the beginning of your pregnancy, or did you have previous prenatel care?
Have you had any prenatal appointments with this pregnancy with your OB? That would make a difference. If you are switching prenatel care providers partway through, they'd need your earlier pregnancy records. If you are starting prenatal care with them from the beginning, they may not need anything.
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@Arden: no I never ha prenatal care with anyone except the midwives.
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@anonysquire: Oh ok. In that case they'd only need your records if you had a preexisting condition that affected your pregnancy. If you've filled out medical history paperwork and your first prenatal appointment is with them, you are probably fine. Just stop showing up at your OB's.
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