So, while I know that you all were absolutely convinced that I should switch OBs – I wasn’t so sure. The issue I had was mostly with one of the triage nurses at the practice, but I have my reasons for liking the doctors (one in particular), and medically, they were giving sound medical advice. I didn’t want to start all over again with a new practice, knowing that I’d probably have very similar issues even with a new practice. Besides, after I explained my frustrations to Dr. R. on Tuesday, there was a huge improvement in how things were being communicated to me.
But, it’s a moot point. Because they’ve taken it out of my hands:
Dear Ms. Perky,
We regret to inform you that our practice will no longer be able to provide medical services to you. We feel you need to find a physician with whom you will have a more communicative relationship.
Our practice is available for emergency medical care only until 12/20/09, which is 30 days from the date of this letter.
We suggest you place yourself in the care of another physician without delay. You may wish to contact the State Medical Society at the number or website listed below for assistance with selecting a new physician.
[insert contact information here]
We have enclosed a medical records release form with this letter. You may mail or fax the completed form to our office. There will be no charge for the medical records transfer. Your medical records will be available in our office for the period of time required by law.
Sincerely,
Drs. So and So, So and So, and So and So
You’d think this letter would have made my day. After all, I wasn’t overly thrilled with them right now anyway, right? But if they hadn’t fired me, I would have had time to wait until my perinatology appointment in less than two weeks before figuring out what to do about a new OB. But I can’t be left without an OB for that long – I’m being followed by a home health agency, and they need a doctor to communicate to and to receive orders from. But that hardly constitutes “emergency care” because it’s essentially maintenance care.
I don’t want to pick a new doctor without my perinatologists’ input, but if I call there, I won’t be able to talk to the doctors, I’ll be talking to the nurse who will just give me a name or two out of their files. It is unlikely that I’ll be able to get an earlier appointment, since next week is Thanksgiving week, so I’m just going to have to wait. But then – who do I tell the perinatologist to send my report to? They can’t send it to my current OB because, again, that’s maintenance, not emergency care.
In an ideal world, I’d switch to a midwife – but I’m not a good candidate for a midwife. So… I’m sort of stuck.
Finally, if I’d left on my own terms, I would have been able to come back for GYN visits after I delivered. I no longer have that option. I’ve had horrifically bad experiences with GYNs in the past and I had finally found a practice that I was comfortable with.
I know that the silver lining is that now I don’t have to agonize about whether to leave a practice that was rarely responsive and was completely inflexible in my care. But it still smarts. I hate it when people don’t like me.
ChezPerky 
It’s not that they don’t like you, sweetie. Although I know you know that in your head. Yes, it’s good that the decision was made for you, but I understand that it stinks that the decision was made for you.
I hope that you are able to find someone that you are able to work with very quickly. Hugs!
I can’t believe they just kicked you out!
I hope you can find a doctor that will listen, take your concerns seriously and help you have the VBAC you want.
I didn’t think that it was legal for a doctor to refuse services, especially in the middle of care. At the very least, it is highly unethical and completely unprofessional. Good luck finding someone new quickly.
Wow. I wish I knew what to say. Though I suspect it was in your best interests (i.e. they realized they couldn’t provide the level of care that you need and deserve), it’s hard not to feel like they don’t like you. ♥
Ouch. I think that I would have been hurt by that even if I had decided to leave. I wish you much luck in finding a new doc. I know how hard it is to see someone new and trust them, especially with the Ob/Gyn.
I’m sorry, K! They don’t deserve you as a patient, anyway. My OB “kicked me out” of his practice 10 minutes before my c-section… and I don’t think he was kidding, either. Here’s hoping you find a wonderful new practice in the next week or two. Thinking of you!
I think I would smart a bit, too. But good luck finding a new ob and hopefully it will be best all round!
Bea
that’s tough. It would hurt me, too. But clearly if they are going to do something like this you are better off without them.
Ugh. I don’t like that. It feels so…fifth grade to me.
I hope you can find another doctor you like, soon!
I’m with pyjammy… very childish. Especially after you explained your concerns to the Dr, and then things were getting better. But you complained, so we’re not friends anymore! Nah nah nah.
Is there any way to call the peri and leave a message for the actual doctor? Most of my doctors offices (though not all) have an option for the doctor’s personal voice mail, and whether or not they call you back themselves, at least maybe they will have heard the message and given an opinion.
Good luck! I think I’d call whoever is the BBB for doctors (AMA?) and voice concerns about being a high risk patient unceremoniously fired from being a patient in the middle of a high risk pregnancy. I don’t think that’s acceptable medical practice.
Wow. I can’t believe they did that! That’s pretty strict! Agree with you that in one way, they took the angst of the decision away from you, but still, it sucks to be told you’re not wanted!
Wait, what?! *They* are telling *you* that there’s a problem communicating? And to boot, making it sound like *you* are the cause of said problem? Like *this* is the first anyone is saying anything about it? *You* were the one who observed the communication troubles and responsibly voiced your concerns! So they respond by *firing you*? And with a letter making it seem like you are a difficult patient, a letter that will no doubt be part of your medical history? You didn’t walk; you tried to work things out. They couldn’t do the same? They couldn’t check in and learn that your perception was that things were improving and explain to you their concerns and give you a chance to address and remedy them? In the middle of a high-risk pregnancy, they do this? They will be available to you only for emergencies, but they’ve already demonstrated that they have trouble gauging what is an emergency! In fact, they have demonstrated they are comfortable creating circumstances that could easily *cause* an emergency, and now they are doing so again, leaving you without care smack in the middle of all of this! How on Earth would you even be expected to feel comfortable approaching them for something urgent now? They’ve already shown that they ignore needs and concerns of current patients; to write that you can come to them for an emergency is a load of crap, because, really, how receptive would they be? They should have talked with you and tried to fix it, or at the very least arranged a smoother transition, not *firing* you like that, but coming to a mutual agreement and a less-sudden switch. But to make it like *they* are the ones noticing a communication problem caused by *you* is insulting! And dropping you like this is way irresponsible! Not that you have lots of time right now, but when and if you have the brainspace for it, write to the AMA and the state licensing board! Now, get an emergency appointment with the perinatologist, because it *is* an emergency that you no longer have an OB while in the middle of a high-risk pregnancy, okay? Oh, man!
“We suggest you place yourself in the care of another physician without delay.”
Yeah, you don’t say. Thanks so much, stoopid doctors, for creating a situation necessitating this. Um, your now former patient’s circumstances are pretty critical, such that you note how imperative it is that a new physician be found immediately, so ya think maybe it wasn’t the smartest thing to, say, drop her like that?