Practice Management Alert

Question:  While perusing a new malpractice policy, I saw “patient abandonment” addressed. What is this and what do we need to do to prevent it from happening?

Wisconsin Subscriber

Answer: There are specific criteria in which a patient-provider situation can deteriorate into patient abandonment, says Steve Verno, CMBSI,  CEMCS,  CMSCS,  CPM-MCS, an independent medical coding and billing instructor in Yalaha, Florida.

Patient abandonment takes place when:

• “Healthcare treatment was unreasonably discontinued.
• “The termination of health care was contrary to the patient's will or without the patient's knowledge.
• “The healthcare provider failed to arrange for care by another appropriate skilled healthcare provider.
• “The healthcare provider should have reasonably foreseen that harm to the patient would arise from the termination of the care.
• “The patient actually suffered harm or loss as a result of the discontinuance of care.”

Your practice can avoid patient abandonment with some simple steps, Verno says.

• Don’t terminate a patient-provider relationship “during a time when it is still necessary that care be continuous unless there will be an immediate transition to another physician.”
• If you do need to sever a relationship with a patient, give adequate notice — 30 days in most states — so the patient has the time and wherewithal to find care elsewhere.
• Do what you can to support the transition to another provider, including making medical records easily accessible and discussing the patient’s care with the new physician.
• If applicable, provide emergency care coverage during the transition.