Bummed out -- oncologist left the practice

Blinx

I'm on 6 month followups with 2 oncologists now. A few months ago, I got a puzzling phone call from the radiation oncologist's office, was I going to keep my next appointment (this was a month before my appointment). I said yes. Then a few days before the appointment, they called and let me know that the onocologist had left the practice, there would be a fill-in for my appointment, or I could get a new appointment with his replacement! I was SO dissappointed! This onc was my favorite doctor out of anybody -- great rapport, he talked to you like you were a person, not a patient. I asked where he went, and they said a few months before he went to one of the main university hospitals downtown. I ended up canceling the appointment, and will not be following up with the practice.

Then, at my other regualr oncology appointment, the nurse there wondered why I wasn't still seeing the other onc at a local county hospital -- turns out the university has an affiliation with that hospital. It would have been nice to receive a letter from the radition oncologist or his practice explaining all of this! I'm just glad I wasn't in the middle of treatment. Has this happened to anyone else?

J9W

My onc left her practice too and I have not rec'd anything from her, nor from her former office; except of course, the phone call telling me I'm now seeing a different doctor. I have heard through the local grapevine that she's starting with another group later this summer - and that she had a no compete clause so couldn't tell any of her patients what was up.  I have an appointment with the replacement onc in June and am going to it with my fingers crossed. If I like him, I'll stay; if not, I'll find my original onc if she really is still in town.

reesie

This hasn't happened to me, but I'm not surprised at this.  Depending on the agreement the Onc has with the practice (whether or not his patients belong to "him" or the "practice") he might be legally prohibited from contacting patients to inform them of his change of affiliation.  However, if this is the case, there can be nothing in the agreement prohibiting patients from contacting him directly on their own.  If you know where he is now and still need follow ups/etc and want to see him specifically I would try contacting him at his new practice.