Page 39 - 2020 Risk Reduction Series Effective Systems_Part 1_Flipbook

SVMIC Risk Reduction Series: Effective Systems

uncomfortable or even impossible for the physician to continue

to care for a patient. When a decision is made to terminate
a relationship with a patient, there are several important

considerations to keep in mind:

• Termination may not be based on discriminatory grounds.

• Pertinent third-party payer or facility contractual provisions
may outline required termination procedures.

• Any acute medical conditions should be resolved prior to
terminating.

• Unilaterally terminating a patient without giving proper
notice and following certain procedures may result in civil

liability or disciplinary action for abandonment.

• When considering terminating a relationship with a patient,

the focus should be to protect patient care and minimize

any potential areas of concern regarding abandonment.

The American Medical Association’s Principles of Medical

Ethics3 states that “physicians’ fiduciary responsibility to
patients entails an obligation to support continuity of care

for their patients”. In order to avoid a possible allegation of
abandonment, the following steps should be taken:

• Review the medical record for conditions that might

require additional monitoring or treatment, including
medications.

• Check the provisions of any contract signed with the
patient’s third-party payer to ensure compliance with it.

• If at all possible, first discuss the termination with the

3 https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2019-01/code-of-medical-ethics-chapter-1_0.pdf

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