It depends on what you need from them. When I left my last neuroligist I wasn't disatisfied, my insurance just didn't cover him. So I called, cancelled the appointment and told them why. I did not need any records sent to the new doctor as no test had been done and the new doctor would want their own history anyway. So I did not bother. I also had copies of all of my headache diaries if she needed those.
Nancy did an excellent post recently on the fact that our records belong to us and providers must provide them to us and to other providers legally. But as a medical records professional most doctors offices don't have trained personel in this area and are awful, just awful in getting information copied and sent out. But records needed for continued care usually should not be charged for if sent directly to the new doctor. Get your new appointment, call the previous doctor and be specific about what needs to be sent and by when. Ask your new doctor's office if information in progress notes is valuable to them or not. Or if they are more interested in lab, xray, MRI, diagnostic type results. Again, while the doctor's office should be very forthcoming with this information, you of course can have the lab or imaging company forward the information to your new doctor also. They will probably get it to the doctor much more quickly as they forward information all the time!!
As for what to tell them. Don't tell them anything until you get your records sent! I'm a practical person from that standpoint. Depending on how they treated you and if you can be objective you can be, you might be able to save someone else from the same treatment.
Good luck.
I think every person has different reasons for finding a new doctor. The word "firing" brings the meaning that the doctor was not meeting your expectations as a patient and I think that is completely acceptable. I think you should just move on, unless, of course, you feel you might help the medical communitiy by offering your reasons in a calm and professional manner.
I had a doc who saved my life, 4 weeks after giving birth, but the same doctor also was the one who left part of the placenta inside my uterus to begin with. Same doc, then, denied any information that could help save my fertility and contributed to me losing my fertility.
In this case, I was so angry, when I finally figured it out (more than 2 years after the incident), I wrote letter after letter, but never sent one until it was professional, calm and straight forward. I explained how he could improve his practice of medicine by being honest and if he didn't know about a certain problem, he should have sent me to a specialist or at least told me it was beyond his scope of practice. I also told him how I felt, even though he probably didn't really care at that point.
Words are powerful and if a doctor mistreats you, I do think you owe it to yourself to stand up and find someone who gives you respect.
Nancy W
I was so incensed by the treatment of my last doctor I put in a complaint to the relevant govt complaints body about her.
She'd quibbled over my past medical history trying to say it was false, wouldn't take an unusual medical medical condition I had on board and show a willingness to learn about it to then monitor and treat it, refused to monitor medical conditions, refused to treat my migraines and insisted I cease medication (as I shouldn't be reliant on medication according to her), said wasn't it good that I'd lost a job as why would you want to work there anyhow and threw me out when I disagreed with her just to name a few things.
I must say I did consider should I have made one more visit to outline my concerns or done it directly by letter but felt her attitude and behaviour was so over the top that a formal complaint was the best way to go.
In my case the only tests I managed to force out of her was very limited blood tests so I wrote to the lab requesting them which they very obligingly sent immediately.
But I guess it's how much the doctor did tick you off. And I agree firstly get your medical records. Then you can decide whether it's a letter to them outlining your concerns or go higher.
Good luck and let us know how you go. Cheers DJ
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It depends on how bad they tick you off! LOL
No really - I usually call and request my medical records and then inform them I will not be returning. Although I have been tempted to freak out in their office and just yell "you are so fired" al a Teri!
As long as you get your medical records - which they have to give you anyway if you request them - then that's all that you really need from them. Then it's on to the next!