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How To Break Up With Your Doctor in 8 Easy Steps

How To Break Up With Your Doctor in 8 Easy Steps

Table of Contents

You came to Google to find out how to break up with your doctor in 2022.

What’s happening with the doctor-patient relationship leading you to initiate the break?

This article is your step-by-step guide on how to break up with your doctor and find a better one.

Once you finish reading our guide, you’ll have all the information and tips you need to find a new doctor the right way.

Breaking Up With Your Doctor 

Breaking up with your doctor is difficult.

We get it – there are some issues.

You may have an established, long-term relationship with your doctor; maybe you’ve seen the same provider for twenty or thirty years.

But now it’s time to part ways.

A doctor-patient breakup can feel just as emotionally daunting as a personal breakup.

But your doctor isn’t meeting your health care needs.

And it’s time to take action.

Breaking Up with your doctor isn't always fun

Doctors are professionals.

Let’s hope they aren’t emotionally fragile.

They can typically handle patients breaking up and leaving their practice.

Indeed they’ve had patients come for numerous reasons.

Take a deep breath.

All is good.

Now is the perfect time to follow The Senior Soup’s step-by-step guide to ending your relationship with your family health care provider.

Step 1: Break Up With Your Doctor Face-to-Face

Unless your relationship with your doctor is toxic, you should consider visiting the doctor’s office, if possible, to meet face-to-face.

So, how do you part ways professionally with your doctor without incident?

The key things to remember are honesty and transparency.

You don’t have “BS” your doctor.

Tell them the truth. They’ll likely appreciate your candor.

First, you may want to jot down a few notes to reference during your discussion.

Second, share what you enjoyed most about your experience and interactions.

Third, now pivot to your reasons for breaking up with the doctor.

Remember that you’re not confronting your doctor; simply put, you’re engaging in a conversation about your reasons for leaving.

That’s it.

Focus on what’s best for you and think about your long-term healthcare goals.

Fourth, share some constructive, non-aggressive feedback.

Think carefully about your overall experience.

  • Was scheduling routine appointments often difficult?
  • How long did you have to wait for lab results?
  • Did the doctor share their notes in an online portal?
  • How accessible are they? Could you get them on the phone quickly if you needed help or had an emergency?

You may choose to end your discussion by thanking your doctor for their time.

It’s okay to express your gratitude and let them know you appreciate their medical expertise and the time spent treating you.

It’s always a good idea to avoid unnecessary confrontations and arguments. Common decency still goes a long way these days.

You want to try to leave on good terms, if possible, of course.

It’s never a good idea to burn bridges.

Who knows, you may even decide to return in a few months.

Step 2: Request Your Medical Records

Collect your medical records as soon as possible so you can share them with your new doctor.

You need to know the names (and correct spellings) of the medications your provider prescribes.

You should also consider the following:

  • What are their policies for discarding patient records?
  • How long do they hold on to your patient files?
  • Are there any fees for patients to collect their medical files?
  • Share any HIPPA concerns you have.

Don’t forget that your physician can access some of your most intimate medical records.

Step 3: Review Your Health Insurance Coverage

You’ll want to determine if the doctor accepts your health insurance plan.

If they don’t, will you pay for visits out-of-pocket?

Out-of-pocket visits are costly and sometimes unaffordable for seniors.

Make sure your health care insurance covers your visits.

Step 4: Visit Your Health Insurance Company’s Website

Your health insurance provider should have a website; it’s the first place you should begin to look when searching for a new doctor.

Here are some examples:

  • Medicare.gov
  • United Healthcare
  • Cigna
  • Aetna
  • Humana
  • CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
  • Kaiser Permanente

You should visit your health insurance company's website looking for a new doctor

Visit HealthCare.gov to learn if your state offers the Federal Government’s Health Insurance Marketplace (some states operate their own Marketplace).

The Marketplace’s open enrollment for 2023 begins on November 1, 2022, and ends on January 15, 2023.

Log into Healthcare.gov to review plans and pricing and to enroll in 2023 coverage.

You could Google “doctors near me” and choose a doctor from the results.

The Senior Soup does not recommend this method.

Step 5: Consider What’s Important To You

What are your non-negotiables?

Does the doctor’s gender matter?

Sometimes men may prefer male doctors, and women may like female doctors.

Are waiting times your sticking point?

Who enjoys waiting more than a half hour to see a doctor?

And here are a few questions you should consider:

  • How easy is it to get hold of your doctor?
  • Is the doctor’s office helpful and pleasant?
  • Is the doctor available after hours in case you have an emergency or a pressing medical question?
  • Are nurse practitioners and physician assistants employed by the practice?
  • What kind of doctor do you need?
    • A PCP?
    • A family doctor?
    • A physician?
    • A specialist?

Does Your New Doctor Employ Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners?

Step 6: Gather Qualified Doctor Recommendations From Reputable & Trustworthy Sources

  • Talk to someone you know – reputable and trustworthy – who practices medicine or works in the medical field.
  • Consider speaking with a pharmacist. Pharmacists frequently interface with doctors and can offer unbiased and straightforward advice.
  • If you know a physician or internist, find out who they see or recommend.
  • Could a registered nurse make a referral to a doctor? Surely you know a registered nurse, don’t you?
  • Make sure you only use trustworthy sources.

Searching for a new primary care doctor in Maryland

Step 7: Narrow Your List

  • Visit the doctor’s website and search around a bit. Look for an “About Page” and search for the doctor(s) education credentials and work history.
  • Does their site feature an online portal where patients can review their medical records and patient notes?
  • Do you see something on their site that catches your eye?
  • Visit Google Maps using your desktop computer or a smartphone and type in the name of the doctor or their location street address.
  • Look closely at the street-view images and examine the building. Is the building located in a safe place? Is it well-lit? Is there ample parking?
  • Please take a look at their Google Business Profile. Do they list their services? How many ratings do they have?
  • Read their Google Reviews. Does any particular comment stand out to you?
  • Find their social media accounts and review their content.
  • Does their social media content reflect the professionalism of their industry?

Step 8: Interview The Doctors!

Interview them?

What, like, on a podcast?

Well, not quite.

The Senior Soup Podcast has you covered!

Are you serious?

Yes, we’re serious!

How to break up with your doctor and interview a new doctor

But aren’t these physicians far too busy for patient interviews?

Physicians are busy – but, of course, so are you!

Ask yourself this: What do you have to lose by asking?

Remember, your doctor is your ally; they’re one of the most critical components in your long-term health strategy.

Here’s what you should do:

  • Call the office and politely request five minutes to chat with the doctor.
  • The receptionists fielding patient inquiries will likely encourage you to schedule an appointment with the doctor.
  • The key is to explain that you’re considering a new doctor and would appreciate a conversation with the new doctor before an initial in-person visit.

If you get through to the doctor?

Yes?

That’s fantastic!

Did you get a sense of the doctor’s bedside manner?

And did you address the reasons why you’re looking for a new doctor?

Did you doctor how many patients they see in a day, a week, a month, etc.?

Do you think they overbook patient appointments?

If so, that’s a red flag.

And want to find out how the doctor stores medical records.

A doctor taking notes

Make sure you take notes from your call and ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do you have a general sense of who they are and how they can help you?
  • Do you feel like you can trust the doctor?
  • Were you brutally honest about your expectations for care?

Why Are People Breaking Up With Their Doctors?

Below are a couple of examples of why doctor-patient breakups occur.

Their doctors stop listening to them and their needs.  

It’s critically important that our doctors genuinely hear us.

What’s more, America’s senior population detests condescension.

Have you ever taken an aging relative or friend to the doctor who ignored them?

While our senior population may experience the effects of cognitive decline, most seniors are acute listeners and can comprehend significant chunks of information.

Aging Patients Are Increasingly Immobile

According to the Administration for Community Living,

“In 2019, there were 54.1 million people age 65 and older (up from 39.6 million in 2009).

Studies show America’s senior population will reach 80.8 million by 2040 and 94.7 million by 2060.

Both populations are growing, and older Americans are one of the fastest-growing demographics in the country.”

Medical research shows that chronic conditions worsen as we age, leading to increased immobility among our senior population.

Older Adults Move To Home-Based Primary Care

Companies like Ennoble Care send physicians and nurse practitioners into seniors’ homes to manage their primary care.

A clinical provider can monitor and maintain the health and well-being of their patients and keep them healthy at home through regular home visits and a proactive approach.

Ennoble Care provides its patients with the very best home-based doctors, and it addresses its patients’ concerns through a variety of healthcare services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial health insurance.

House call doctors in maryland

For additional resources on how to break up with your doctor, keep a close eye on The Senior Soup, and be sure to listen and subscribe to The Senior Soup Podcast.

Ryan Miner
Author: Ryan Miner

Ryan Miner

Ryan Miner

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About The Senior Soup

The Senior Soup aims to connect aging adults and their loved ones with an abundance of aging-specific resources, including senior services professionals, healthcare experts, and community organizations.

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The Senior Soup aims to connect aging adults and their loved ones with an abundance of aging-specific resources, including senior services professionals, healthcare experts, and community organizations.

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