Do OBs generally let you know when they switch practices?

[momof4peppers]

I am freaking out. Called my doctor last week to check on some BCP issues. For a variety of reasons, I didn't have a chance to call back until today. Had to leave another message. Someone from his office called me back and asked me to call again. About 5 minutes later, I got a call from the same person saying that my doctor and his partner have left the practice and joined a much, much larger one. The message she left was in a hushed, whispered tone. I have a difficult time with doctors, so this is causing me much anxiety. Anyone have this happen? Do doctors usually take their files with them? I've seen no other doctor in the (old) practice. Do I call them tomorrow and ask?

UGH! I've never had this happen to me!

[Veritaserum]

Hmm.... My CNM (whom I use for gyn stuff) sent me and her other patients a letter announcing her switch this month.

Your experience seems a little odd. Maybe your doctor left under emotionally charged circumstances?

[wombatclay]

I know of two cases where a provider left a group practice without notice... in both cases patients were informed via a letter posted in the office after the fact. The letter didn't explain reasoning, but did provide "what will happen now" information.

However, these were both at group practices where clients saw different providers on different visits. So it wasn't like a client's "specific" provider vanished, you know? I'd suggest visiting the office in person (if possible) and asking what they suggest in terms of what will happen next. If it really is a group practice, then your records and care should remain with the group regardless of who comes/goes. If however it is a situation where individual providers simply share a common office while maintaining individual/seperate practices then yes... it's possible your provider took your records with him.

[Youngfrankenstein]

The place I go has a mix of obs and cnms. I always find out they've left andgo...what?

They have even moved offices andthey don't notify..it's very annoying!

[momof4peppers]

Thank you so much! I googled the new practice, and the address is the same as the old, but only 2 of the docs from the old practice are listed, with a new phone number. So maybe they're leasing the office space? I don't know. It's all very odd to me. But it also looks like they switched hospitals they deliver at, which IMHO is a good thing. I also know the other docs in the old practice didn't do OB stuff, just gyn. So maybe they split up because of the insurance rates? Who knows.

It's just giving me an anxiety attack on top of the headaches I'm already having!

And the worst part is I'm sure it'll turn out to be a non-issue - I'm just creating one in my head!

[seeing_stars]

It happened to me recently. I showed up for my 6 week pp appointment to be informed that my doctor was no longer with the practice. The office called her new temporary office and got me in with her that day. I transferred my records that day. She was going to leave in August (this was on early June) and after some bit of drama she showed up to work and her key didn't work in the door :

I got a couple letters from her in the weeks following giving me the new office location and phone numbers.

[momof4peppers]

Thanks you all! I cannot imagine showing up to a 6w pp visit and being told the doc wasn't there!!! Good lord, I'm so sorry that happened to you! That makes me feel better about my own situation!

So yesterday was apparently their first day in the new offices, which are next door to the old ones. No idea why they left, the old office was pretty snotty with me this a.m. when I called. But new office was very nice and understanding, so I'm sure it will all work out.