How to gracefully change doctors

I've done this twice.  Both were preceded by a serious change in direction with my breast cancer that the Onc did not pick up.  I now see an Onc that only does breast cancer at a University Hospital.  I don't remember all the details of the first change but the second one is fresh in my mind.  I wrote a short professional letter stating my intention and ask that my records be sent to the new Onc in time for treatment specifying the treatment date.  I hand delivered the letter to the Onc's office staff.  The change went smoothly.

As pip57 said, you dont' even have to worry. Unless you have some points to bring up and then you do like Ann or Apple said.

I'm kind of in the same boat.  My BS was a general surgeon, had me in twice to go over the same crap (drawing pictures of where he was going to cut, which by the way showed me he had not looked my mammogram as it ended up under my arm) and sent an outrageous bill to my insurance company and I had to pay twice for the co-insurance.  Not only that, he took 21 of my nodes knowing I had only use of that one arm and then sent my tissue samples to a hospital that would not take my insurance.  Eventually had it written off but the hassle while under going treatment was a pain in the (you know where).'

I have to have another mammogram in June and a follow up visit.  I am not happy with this surgeon but my DH suggests I go back to save another doctor having to go over everything again.

Gabby, I am in the process of doing this myself. I have an appt with the new MO on 3/24.  I will sign the authorization letter this week and have my current MO send my records to the new one.  I am going to tell my original doctor that I am seeking a second opinion. If I decide to stay with the new doctor, she'll already have all of my records.  If I don't like her, I'll go back to my old MO (or possibly look for another second opinion/new MO).  Good luck to both of us!

As lago said, this is fairly normal for Dr.s.  It feels weird to you, but for them, this kind of thing happens all the time.  

If you feel you need to communicate further with Dr. #1, then e-mail as you mentioned or call.  Otherwise call the office and ask them to transfer your records.  

Gabby - I also switched MOs - he was very good and very involved while I was in active treatment, but as soon as that was over I only saw PAs during my appointments, not him. When I questioned this, the PA stated that I would have to specifically request to see the doctor when I made my appointment, but otherwise their practice was for me to only see the PA. 

This was only a year out of treatment!  I wanted an MO to lay eyes on my and discuss things with me, not a PA, especially this PA who was young and inexperienced.  When I wrote asking for a copy of my medical records, I included exactly why I was leaving in the letter.  That way if he was concerned or had questions, or if the PA was taking things upon herself that were contrary to his practice, he could contact me.  I never heard anything.  I guess once patients were out of active treatment, they were no longer interesting enough for him to actually see and he didn't care if I left.  I love my new onc, so it ended up he actually did me a favor by doing what he did.

Bottom line is that doctors are a lot more important personally to us than we are to them, so if you feel that another doctor is a better fit, go for it and don't over-trouble yourself about your current doc's feelings.  Frankly, he has so many patients that he probably won't even notice if you never make another appointment.  

Gabby - I'm in agreement about being open and honest - that's why I sent the letter explaining exactly why I was leaving.  I could have just gotten my records, cancelled my appointment and never made another appointment.  But I thought I'd at least put on record why I was leaving, so my onc would be aware of the issue, and not just assume that I left because I was moving out of the area or somethign like that.  I also wanted to make sure that he was aware of what the PA was telling patients.  What my onc chose to do with that info is his business, and apparently he didn't care.  But at least it's in my records about why I left.  

Yes, we do tend to "over-trouble" ourselves sometimes!!!