Re: Re: Resignation from Group

[Guest guest]

Good points, Brent.

Yes, I have been thinking about these issues -- leasing more equipment,

buying new equipment, etc.

I could also be a drag for them -- voting against various things they want

to do that would cost me money but might be good for the group.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

I'm braced for the worst in human behavior to bubble to the surface.

Re: Resignation from Group

Be prepared if your contract allow for them to cut you loose sooner

if it suites them. It depends on the dynamics of the group and how

your leaving is perceived. Regarding the assets, you may just have

to take with you the portion you paid for if it is not equitable.

Sometimes in accounting things have a zero value since they have been

depreciated out.

Be aware of the group buying supplies or hoarding things before you

leave and wanting their portion of the costs.

You more than likely will have patients diverted from you at the

front desk so if your pay is based off production, you may find it

harder to produce after your announcement.

Brent

>

> Any advice, from experience or otherwise, for someone planning to

resign

> from a group partnership?

>

> There is an exit contract that covers some of the timing and costs

of

> leaving the group.

>

> Nothing firm in determining assets, per se.

>

> I have an attorney for backup.

>

> A potential problem with my exit is -- to avoid financial penalty,

I have to

> give 9-months notice, so I will be in the office awhile after I

make the

> official resignation announcement.

>

> Any advice on things to pre-empt?

>

> Thanks

>

> Locke, MD

> Basalt, CO

> University of Kansas Medical School 1991

> Eau (WI) Family Medicine Residency 1994

> 5 Years in Air Force -- [Laughlin AFB (Del Rio, TX) // Spangdahlem

AB,

> Germany]

> Alpine Medical Group -- Private Group Practice since 1999

> http://www.alpinemedical.md

> Job Share w/ Wife

> AMG went independent from hospital MSO 10/04

> AMG made downpayment on Centricity EMR 12/04

> AMG went " live " with Centricity EMR 15 April 2005

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Naureen,

Unfortunately, I have some past experience with people leaving our group and the founding partner did not take it well.

He held a personal grudge for one of the docs leaving who stayed in the community.

Was not a pretty sight.

I'm trying to take the high road and give plenty of notice to help out with th transition, but I don't hold much hope for a pleasant exit.

thanks for the thoughts.

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Naureen A. MohamedSent: Monday, June 19, 2006 6:25 AMTo: Subject: Re: Resignation from Group

, I left a multispecialty group in 11/03. I was supposed to give 3 months notice, but only gave 2. They all knew I was unhappy and had put my house up on the market months (5) before. I had also told the administrator months before that he should start looking for a new doc. They didn't give me a hard time. I am not advising you to do the same, just letting you know my experience. I think that my partners knew how miserable I was and didn't want to force me to stay, so they didn't bother taking any action to make me stay. I wouldn't want to force someone to stay with me if they didn't want to. Maybe they wouldn't want to make you stay either. Naureen

[Guest guest]

Thanks Naureen,

Unfortunately, I have some past experience with people leaving our group and the founding partner did not take it well.

He held a personal grudge for one of the docs leaving who stayed in the community.

Was not a pretty sight.

I'm trying to take the high road and give plenty of notice to help out with th transition, but I don't hold much hope for a pleasant exit.

thanks for the thoughts.

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Naureen A. MohamedSent: Monday, June 19, 2006 6:25 AMTo: Subject: Re: Resignation from Group

, I left a multispecialty group in 11/03. I was supposed to give 3 months notice, but only gave 2. They all knew I was unhappy and had put my house up on the market months (5) before. I had also told the administrator months before that he should start looking for a new doc. They didn't give me a hard time. I am not advising you to do the same, just letting you know my experience. I think that my partners knew how miserable I was and didn't want to force me to stay, so they didn't bother taking any action to make me stay. I wouldn't want to force someone to stay with me if they didn't want to. Maybe they wouldn't want to make you stay either. Naureen

[Guest guest]

Thanks Naureen,

Unfortunately, I have some past experience with people leaving our group and the founding partner did not take it well.

He held a personal grudge for one of the docs leaving who stayed in the community.

Was not a pretty sight.

I'm trying to take the high road and give plenty of notice to help out with th transition, but I don't hold much hope for a pleasant exit.

thanks for the thoughts.

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Naureen A. MohamedSent: Monday, June 19, 2006 6:25 AMTo: Subject: Re: Resignation from Group

, I left a multispecialty group in 11/03. I was supposed to give 3 months notice, but only gave 2. They all knew I was unhappy and had put my house up on the market months (5) before. I had also told the administrator months before that he should start looking for a new doc. They didn't give me a hard time. I am not advising you to do the same, just letting you know my experience. I think that my partners knew how miserable I was and didn't want to force me to stay, so they didn't bother taking any action to make me stay. I wouldn't want to force someone to stay with me if they didn't want to. Maybe they wouldn't want to make you stay either. Naureen

[Guest guest]

,

I left a group practice and gave them 10

months notice. I thought everything was ok, but found out later they were

telling patients either they had no idea where I went or that I had left the

state (both lies). When I attended a picnic (after being invited by the staff),

the cold shoulder from both the owners was palpable. Needless

to say, I have not had much interaction with the group since. I remained

completely honest and up front about my situation, but they still apparently

had their feelings hurt by my departure. Sometimes there is nothing you can do

about that. Good luck with your transition!

Re: Resignation from Group

,

I left

a multispecialty group in 11/03. I was supposed to give 3 months notice,

but only gave 2. They all knew I was unhappy and had put my house up on

the market months (5) before. I had also told the administrator months

before that he should start looking for a new doc. They didn't give me a

hard time. I am not advising you to do the same, just letting you know my

experience. I think that my partners knew how miserable I was and didn't

want to force me to stay, so they didn't bother taking any action to make me

stay. I wouldn't want to force someone to stay with me if they didn't

want to. Maybe they wouldn't want to make you stay either. Naureen

[Guest guest]

,

I left a group practice and gave them 10

months notice. I thought everything was ok, but found out later they were

telling patients either they had no idea where I went or that I had left the

state (both lies). When I attended a picnic (after being invited by the staff),

the cold shoulder from both the owners was palpable. Needless

to say, I have not had much interaction with the group since. I remained

completely honest and up front about my situation, but they still apparently

had their feelings hurt by my departure. Sometimes there is nothing you can do

about that. Good luck with your transition!

Re: Resignation from Group

,

I left

a multispecialty group in 11/03. I was supposed to give 3 months notice,

but only gave 2. They all knew I was unhappy and had put my house up on

the market months (5) before. I had also told the administrator months

before that he should start looking for a new doc. They didn't give me a

hard time. I am not advising you to do the same, just letting you know my

experience. I think that my partners knew how miserable I was and didn't

want to force me to stay, so they didn't bother taking any action to make me

stay. I wouldn't want to force someone to stay with me if they didn't

want to. Maybe they wouldn't want to make you stay either. Naureen

[Guest guest]

In my case, a lawyer wrote a letter after I was fired from my old group practice (something that happens sometimes when you give lots of notice), insisting that patients be informed of where I was now practicing. While I didn't get the severance that I should have, they did start giving out my new number to my patients. , I gave notice Jan 2005 to leave a group, with 6 mos notice required. It was a mutual parting of the ways, as I could not keep up with the documentation and #visits being asked of me and I had reached my limit of trying to deal with it. The caveat in my case was that I was to keep up with demands of practice until I left, and that was not negotiable. So in addition to trying to do something I had not been able to do for 5 or more years, I was also trying to put together a new practice. As part of the changes, my nurse of 8 years left 2 months before I was to leave, when her family moved out of state. So I ended up trying to finish out with substitutes, not the same person every day, and the most consistent ones were new to our office, did not know the EMR nor our workflow very well, but when I tried to point that out I was chastised for "being critical of staff". As it turned out, I was cut out of seeing patients sooner than I or my patients had expected, and patients were told I was gone. That didn't seem fair to the patients, as all the details I had expected to help them work out at a final visit were left in the air. Can't fight city hall.So watch for the little details, don't count on "one more visit" with patients to square away issues, and don't count on being able to tell patients of your new location in a letter or general announcement. I was allowed to tell patients who asked, but not to have a letter in the waiting room or exam rooms. As "company policy" patients were not told of my new location, only that I had left the practice. It did help to have friends at the reception desk, who told selected patients (I left to do a specialty niche practice in AD/HD) where I had gone, and even gave out my cards. The phone operators turned over so fast that a general call always met with "he's gone", no hope there. Good luck, hope it works out well, and that your new practice gets off the ground well. Dave Pomeroy MDdrdavebrainhealthnw8 years EPICcare as EMR, 10 months with SOAPware. 26 years general Family Medicine in Pacific NW (4 offices)10 months solo practice in AD/HD medicine, and lovin' it ! > >> > Any advice, from experience or otherwise, for someone planning to > resign> > from a group partnership?> > > > There is an exit contract that covers some of the timing and costs > of> > leaving the group.> > > > Nothing firm in determining assets, per se.> > > > I have an attorney for backup.> > > > A potential problem with my exit is -- to avoid financial penalty, > I have to> > give 9-months notice, so I will be in the office awhile after I > make the> > official resignation announcement.> > > > Any advice on things to pre-empt?> > > > Thanks> > > > Locke, MD> > Basalt, CO> > University of Kansas Medical School 1991> > Eau (WI) Family Medicine Residency 1994> > 5 Years in Air Force -- [Laughlin AFB (Del Rio, TX) // Spangdahlem > AB,> > Germany]> > Alpine Medical Group -- Private Group Practice since 1999> > http://www.alpinemedical.md> > Job Share w/ Wife> > AMG went independent from hospital MSO 10/04> > AMG made downpayment on Centricity EMR 12/04> > AMG went "live" with Centricity EMR 15 April 2005> >> > > > > > > > >

[Guest guest]

In my case, a lawyer wrote a letter after I was fired from my old group practice (something that happens sometimes when you give lots of notice), insisting that patients be informed of where I was now practicing. While I didn't get the severance that I should have, they did start giving out my new number to my patients. , I gave notice Jan 2005 to leave a group, with 6 mos notice required. It was a mutual parting of the ways, as I could not keep up with the documentation and #visits being asked of me and I had reached my limit of trying to deal with it. The caveat in my case was that I was to keep up with demands of practice until I left, and that was not negotiable. So in addition to trying to do something I had not been able to do for 5 or more years, I was also trying to put together a new practice. As part of the changes, my nurse of 8 years left 2 months before I was to leave, when her family moved out of state. So I ended up trying to finish out with substitutes, not the same person every day, and the most consistent ones were new to our office, did not know the EMR nor our workflow very well, but when I tried to point that out I was chastised for "being critical of staff". As it turned out, I was cut out of seeing patients sooner than I or my patients had expected, and patients were told I was gone. That didn't seem fair to the patients, as all the details I had expected to help them work out at a final visit were left in the air. Can't fight city hall.So watch for the little details, don't count on "one more visit" with patients to square away issues, and don't count on being able to tell patients of your new location in a letter or general announcement. I was allowed to tell patients who asked, but not to have a letter in the waiting room or exam rooms. As "company policy" patients were not told of my new location, only that I had left the practice. It did help to have friends at the reception desk, who told selected patients (I left to do a specialty niche practice in AD/HD) where I had gone, and even gave out my cards. The phone operators turned over so fast that a general call always met with "he's gone", no hope there. Good luck, hope it works out well, and that your new practice gets off the ground well. Dave Pomeroy MDdrdavebrainhealthnw8 years EPICcare as EMR, 10 months with SOAPware. 26 years general Family Medicine in Pacific NW (4 offices)10 months solo practice in AD/HD medicine, and lovin' it ! > >> > Any advice, from experience or otherwise, for someone planning to > resign> > from a group partnership?> > > > There is an exit contract that covers some of the timing and costs > of> > leaving the group.> > > > Nothing firm in determining assets, per se.> > > > I have an attorney for backup.> > > > A potential problem with my exit is -- to avoid financial penalty, > I have to> > give 9-months notice, so I will be in the office awhile after I > make the> > official resignation announcement.> > > > Any advice on things to pre-empt?> > > > Thanks> > > > Locke, MD> > Basalt, CO> > University of Kansas Medical School 1991> > Eau (WI) Family Medicine Residency 1994> > 5 Years in Air Force -- [Laughlin AFB (Del Rio, TX) // Spangdahlem > AB,> > Germany]> > Alpine Medical Group -- Private Group Practice since 1999> > http://www.alpinemedical.md> > Job Share w/ Wife> > AMG went independent from hospital MSO 10/04> > AMG made downpayment on Centricity EMR 12/04> > AMG went "live" with Centricity EMR 15 April 2005> >> > > > > > > > >

[Guest guest]

That's actually a great idea. I wish I would have thought of that, when

I left. I was promised a list of my patients. But while I was finishing

out, everytime a patient would come in, if I were the PCP they would

change it, so that by the time they got around to gettting my list, it

only had 98 patients on it (they just gave me my roster, from the

different plans). Also told all kinds of excuses to patients after I

left from " we don't know where he is " to " He moved to India " .

rocky

--- Guinn wrote:

> In my case, a lawyer wrote a letter after I was fired from my old

> group practice (something that happens sometimes when you give lots

> of notice), insisting that patients be informed of where I was now

> practicing. While I didn't get the severance that I should have, they

>

> did start giving out my new number to my patients.

>

>

>

>

>

> > ,

> > I gave notice Jan 2005 to leave a group, with 6 mos notice

> required.

> > It was a mutual parting of the ways, as I could not keep up with

> the

> > documentation and #visits being asked of me and I had reached my

> > limit of trying to deal with it. The caveat in my case was that I

> > was to keep up with demands of practice until I left, and that was

> > not negotiable. So in addition to trying to do something I had not

> > been able to do for 5 or more years, I was also trying to put

> > together a new practice.

> > As part of the changes, my nurse of 8 years left 2 months before I

> > was to leave, when her family moved out of state. So I ended up

> > trying to finish out with substitutes, not the same person every

> > day, and the most consistent ones were new to our office, did not

> > know the EMR nor our workflow very well, but when I tried to point

> > that out I was chastised for " being critical of staff " . As it

> turned

> > out, I was cut out of seeing patients sooner than I or my patients

> > had expected, and patients were told I was gone. That didn't seem

> > fair to the patients, as all the details I had expected to help

> them

> > work out at a final visit were left in the air. Can't fight city

> > hall.

> >

> > So watch for the little details, don't count on " one more visit "

> > with patients to square away issues, and don't count on being able

> > to tell patients of your new location in a letter or general

> > announcement. I was allowed to tell patients who asked, but not to

> > have a letter in the waiting room or exam rooms. As " company

> policy "

> > patients were not told of my new location, only that I had left the

> > practice.

> >

> > It did help to have friends at the reception desk, who told

> selected

> > patients (I left to do a specialty niche practice in AD/HD) where I

> > had gone, and even gave out my cards. The phone operators turned

> > over so fast that a general call always met with " he's gone " , no

> > hope there.

> >

> > Good luck, hope it works out well, and that your new practice gets

> > off the ground well.

> >

> > Dave

> >

> > Pomeroy MD

> > drdave@...

> > 8 years EPICcare as EMR, 10 months with SOAPware.

> > 26 years general Family Medicine in Pacific NW (4 offices)

> > 10 months solo practice in AD/HD medicine, and lovin' it !

> >

> >

> > > >

> > > > Any advice, from experience or otherwise, for someone planning

> > to

> > > resign

> > > > from a group partnership?

> > > >

> > > > There is an exit contract that covers some of the timing and

> > costs

> > > of

> > > > leaving the group.

> > > >

> > > > Nothing firm in determining assets, per se.

> > > >

> > > > I have an attorney for backup.

> > > >

> > > > A potential problem with my exit is -- to avoid financial

> > penalty,

> > > I have to

> > > > give 9-months notice, so I will be in the office awhile after I

> > > make the

> > > > official resignation announcement.

> > > >

> > > > Any advice on things to pre-empt?

> > > >

> > > > Thanks

> > > >

> > > > Locke, MD

> > > > Basalt, CO

> > > > University of Kansas Medical School 1991

> > > > Eau (WI) Family Medicine Residency 1994

> > > > 5 Years in Air Force -- [Laughlin AFB (Del Rio, TX) //

> > Spangdahlem

> > > AB,

> > > > Germany]

> > > > Alpine Medical Group -- Private Group Practice since 1999

> > > > http://www.alpinemedical.md

> > > > Job Share w/ Wife

> > > > AMG went independent from hospital MSO 10/04

> > > > AMG made downpayment on Centricity EMR 12/04

> > > > AMG went " live " with Centricity EMR 15 April 2005

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

From the Old MD in Drain, Dear Padma, I've been mulling over your statement "I decided not to fight it" and agree that fighting might not be in order. However, I don't think the 5% is all you are up against. If they get 3 months of documented "sluffing off." then they can call that anything they want. I know one woman for whom they called it "depression, maybe bipolar'' in all their contacts with referral questions. You do not need to pay anyone back any money if they deline to use you properly. You should do some documenting of your own, and contact your lawyer. They should behave or let you spend this time setting up your practice. Don't play dead. Just be kind, polite, and see that you get your rights.

Joanne Holland DVM/MDPadma wrote: Hi ,I just resigned--May 12th-- from a large Hospital owned practice. I got a lot of advice from an attorney about what my rights/ restrictions were. He said I could not use the list of my patients I had gathered (based on advice from other physician friends), because that was the hospital group's property. But if I did use it to let patients know, and

got sued, most judges would not get too upset with me-- because ultimatly the patients have a right to decide whether or not they want to follow their doctor.Anyway I gave my notice to the new head guy of the network--one of the more reasonble people, before I breathed a word to the others below him---a group of extraordinarily vicious people. And this person was smart enough to sort of strike a deal with me--saying that this city was a small place--people would eventually find out where I was, so as long as I continued to use their hospital for admissions and tests, they would help me inform patients. Well, they haven't actually helped me yet, but I advertised in all the leading newspapers, and patients started calling. Meanwhile they want me to continue to the end of my 3 month notice period--2 other physicians also just left(!!!) So I have started telling all my patients. BUT---mysteriously, my bookings on

some days have plummeted--only 5 patients on certain days when the nurse practitioner has 20 on her schedule! We have a NEGATIVE incentive program as well--and this year by the time I leave there is a very good chance I will have to return 5% of my salary to the organisation. I have decided to not fight it. I love the idea of sending them cute little gifts from Hawaii.......! Meanwhile for the new practice I got 34 new patients in 2 weeks! I have started evening and weekend hours until I am released from the #%?!@*! place! Will keep you all posted:)--Padma

Yahoo! Groups gets better. Check out the new email design. Plus there’s much more to come.

[Guest guest]

RE Early leaving.

Go to the head guy and show him how your schedule has been changed.

Have your attorney involved with this -- if your schedule is being rigged

against you and you might have to give something back, this SHOULD be

negotiated now, perhaps you can get SEVERANCE and have time to set up your

new practice.

By the way, the head doc was NOT being only kind-- I was able to get the

restrictive covenant dropped (took alot of doing) as since you're staying in

the area and referring to THEM, they are NOT being DAMAGED by your striking

out on your own.

ANYTHING can be negotiated, and be sure to discuss with your attorney the

discussions with the head doc.

Finally, if they need you NOW, NOW'S the time to negotiate.

Contact me off list if you'd like to compare notes -- I did this 2 years ago

and it might help to discuss with others.

Dr Matt Levin

Pittsburgh PA

Solo since Dec 2004; severanced off in July 2004, was there 8 years.

Finished residency in 1988

Re: Resignation from Group

> Hi ,

>

> I just resigned--May 12th-- from a large Hospital owned practice. I

> got a lot of advice from an attorney about what my rights/

> restrictions were. He said I could not use the list of my patients I

> had gathered (based on advice from other physician friends), because

> that was the hospital group's property. But if I did use it to let

> patients know, and got sued, most judges would not get too upset

> with me-- because ultimatly the patients have a right to decide

> whether or not they want to follow their doctor.

>

> Anyway I gave my notice to the new head guy of the network--one of

> the more reasonble people, before I breathed a word to the others

> below him---a group of extraordinarily vicious people. And this

> person was smart enough to sort of strike a deal with me--saying

> that this city was a small place--people would eventually find out

> where I was, so as long as I continued to use their hospital for

> admissions and tests, they would help me inform patients.

>

> Well, they haven't actually helped me yet, but I advertised in all

> the leading newspapers, and patients started calling. Meanwhile they

> want me to continue to the end of my 3 month notice period--2 other

> physicians also just left(!!!) So I have started telling all my

> patients. BUT---mysteriously, my bookings on some days have

> plummeted--only 5 patients on certain days when the nurse

> practitioner has 20 on her schedule! We have a NEGATIVE incentive

> program as well--and this year by the time I leave there is a very

> good chance I will have to return 5% of my salary to the

> organisation. I have decided to not fight it.

>

> I love the idea of sending them cute little gifts from

> Hawaii.......!

>

> Meanwhile for the new practice I got 34 new patients in 2 weeks! I

> have started evening and weekend hours until I am released from the

> #%?!@*! place! Will keep you all posted:)

>

> --Padma

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

RE kind and polite

Nope, don't.

Use the lawyer to get that part expunged.

Amazing what a little knowledge and "professionalism" will get you when you use YOUR lawyer against them, esp when they want YOU to pay THEM money and they've lost 2 docs recently.

And, this is BUSINESS, so use your negotiating power, not depend on their largesse.

BUT, each location is different.

Dr Matt Levin

Re: Re: Resignation from Group

From the Old MD in Drain,

Dear Padma, I've been mulling over your statement "I decided not to fight it" and agree that fighting might not be in order. However, I don't think the 5% is all you are up against. If they get 3 months of documented "sluffing off." then they can call that anything they want. I know one woman for whom they called it "depression, maybe bipolar'' in all their contacts with referral questions. You do not need to pay anyone back any money if they deline to use you properly. You should do some documenting of your own, and contact your lawyer. They should behave or let you spend this time setting up your practice. Don't play dead. Just be kind, polite, and see that you get your rights.

Joanne Holland DVM/MDPadma wrote:

Hi ,I just resigned--May 12th-- from a large Hospital owned practice. I got a lot of advice from an attorney about what my rights/ restrictions were. He said I could not use the list of my patients I had gathered (based on advice from other physician friends), because that was the hospital group's property. But if I did use it to let patients know, and got sued, most judges would not get too upset with me-- because ultimatly the patients have a right to decide whether or not they want to follow their doctor.Anyway I gave my notice to the new head guy of the network--one of the more reasonble people, before I breathed a word to the others below him---a group of extraordinarily vicious people. And this person was smart enough to sort of strike a deal with me--saying that this city was a small place--people would eventually find out where I was, so as long as I continued to use their hospital for admissions and tests, they would help me inform patients. Well, they haven't actually helped me yet, but I advertised in all the leading newspapers, and patients started calling. Meanwhile they want me to continue to the end of my 3 month notice period--2 other physicians also just left(!!!) So I have started telling all my patients. BUT---mysteriously, my bookings on some days have plummeted--only 5 patients on certain days when the nurse practitioner has 20 on her schedule! We have a NEGATIVE incentive program as well--and this year by the time I leave there is a very good chance I will have to return 5% of my salary to the organisation. I have decided to not fight it. I love the idea of sending them cute little gifts from Hawaii.......! Meanwhile for the new practice I got 34 new patients in 2 weeks! I have started evening and weekend hours until I am released from the #%?!@*! place! Will keep you all posted:)--Padma

Yahoo! Groups gets better. Check out the new email design. Plus there’s much more to come.

[Guest guest]

Cannot reiterate how important it is too get a good lawyer involved now!

Ellsworth, MD

sdale, Az

---- Levin wrote:

> RE kind and polite

>

> Nope, don't.

> Use the lawyer to get that part expunged.

>

> Amazing what a little knowledge and " professionalism " will get you when you

use YOUR lawyer against them, esp when they want YOU to pay THEM money and

they've lost 2 docs recently.

>

> And, this is BUSINESS, so use your negotiating power, not depend on their

largesse.

>

> BUT, each location is different.

>

> Dr Matt Levin

> Re: Re: Resignation from Group

>

>

> From the Old MD in Drain,

> Dear Padma, I've been mulling over your statement " I decided not to fight

it " and agree that fighting might not be in order. However, I don't think the

5% is all you are up against. If they get 3 months of documented " sluffing

off. " then they can call that anything they want. I know one woman for whom

they called it " depression, maybe bipolar'' in all their contacts with referral

questions. You do not need to pay anyone back any money if they deline to use

you properly. You should do some documenting of your own, and contact your

lawyer. They should behave or let you spend this time setting up your practice.

Don't play dead. Just be kind, polite, and see that you get your rights.

>

> Joanne Holland DVM/MD

>

> Padma wrote:

> Hi ,

>

> I just resigned--May 12th-- from a large Hospital owned practice. I

> got a lot of advice from an attorney about what my rights/

> restrictions were. He said I could not use the list of my patients I

> had gathered (based on advice from other physician friends), because

> that was the hospital group's property. But if I did use it to let

> patients know, and got sued, most judges would not get too upset

> with me-- because ultimatly the patients have a right to decide

> whether or not they want to follow their doctor.

>

> Anyway I gave my notice to the new head guy of the network--one of

> the more reasonble people, before I breathed a word to the others

> below him---a group of extraordinarily vicious people. And this

> person was smart enough to sort of strike a deal with me--saying

> that this city was a small place--people would eventually find out

> where I was, so as long as I continued to use their hospital for

> admissions and tests, they would help me inform patients.

>

> Well, they haven't actually helped me yet, but I advertised in all

> the leading newspapers, and patients started calling. Meanwhile they

> want me to continue to the end of my 3 month notice period--2 other

> physicians also just left(!!!) So I have started telling all my

> patients. BUT---mysteriously, my bookings on some days have

> plummeted--only 5 patients on certain days when the nurse

> practitioner has 20 on her schedule! We have a NEGATIVE incentive

> program as well--and this year by the time I leave there is a very

> good chance I will have to return 5% of my salary to the

> organisation. I have decided to not fight it.

>

> I love the idea of sending them cute little gifts from

> Hawaii.......!

>

> Meanwhile for the new practice I got 34 new patients in 2 weeks! I

> have started evening and weekend hours until I am released from the

> #%?!@*! place! Will keep you all posted:)

>

> --Padma

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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