Patient Dismissal

Whether your patient is angry or manipulative, there are certain ways to deal with them. Here are eight strategies to employ.

Every doctor wants to see the best in their patients, but the truth is some will cause you trouble. Here are tips to deal with problem patients.

While there may be a benefit to pharmaceutical companies advertising to consumers directly, this doctor sees too many problems with it.

Discharging a patient from your practice can be a difficult decision. However, if done the right way, your practice will be better for it.

What should you do when a patient becomes difficult during an office visit? Trust your instincts on the safety of patients and staff, and have a plan.

We accept patients whose parents refuse to vaccinate them into our practice, but it's not an easy road, and it's not an easy decision.

This physician wonders why her patients so often refuse low-risk, high-benefit treatments because the media or family friends say they are dangerous.

Some patients are choosing to drive long distances to continue seeing a trusted physician who has moved. But is it OK to retain a "back up" physician, just in case?

Despite rising rates of prescription drug abuse, there is no real consensus in the physician community on treatment protocols. Physicians often follow their own heart.

Pediatrics is unique in that physicians have to push patients out of the nest so they can fly on their own. Here's how one doctor does it.

From a sample patient dismissal letter to an RVU calculator; these 10 resources will help your practice operate in a more efficient and compliant manner.

The physician-patient relationship can be terminated for any non-discriminatory reason with proper notice. It is best to do so as cordially as possible.

Physicians without proper opioid prescribing policies may unknowingly help patients engage in illegal activities, and they could face liability issues.

Dismissing a patient from your medical practice without taking the proper precautions can raise ethical and legal problems.

Need to “fire” a patient for non-payment or disruptive behavior? There are ethical principles to consider.

This written patient no-show policy has helped one Massachusetts practice reduce its rate of missed and late appointments.

When patient lateness is a problem, there is a solution. Here's what the experts say about keeping appointments on time at your medical practice.

Here is why my pediatric practice requires 100 percent vaccination for patients and does not accept alternative schedules from parents.

What’s the best course of action when a patient threatens to sue you for malpractice?

How does your practice handle it when a parent refuses to vaccinate his child in accordance with recommended medical guidelines?

Would you dismiss a patient who continually fails to pay despite your attempts to work out a suitable payment plan?

I appreciate the business my medical practice receives, but my staff and I also need to attend to our personal lives as well and we can't sacrifice that.

I understand that to each individual patient there is no one more important, no one more urgent. But I am one physician and can only see one person at a time.

Physicians should establish their own Bill of Rights, providing patients with a clear idea of what conduct will not be tolerated and may lead to termination.

I know I can't help every patient, but I try. But sometimes, some patients push me to the brink of frustration when they won't let me help.

Physicians avoid dismissing patients for various reasons. What’s your main reason?

Before you decide to terminate a difficult patient - give him the benefit of the doubt and try these techniques to mend the breac

Got a patient who's abusing your staff, ignoring your advice, failing to pay his bill? When you realize it just isn't going to work, it's usually best to let the patient go. Here's how to do it correctly.

One woman's declaration of love for her physician shouldn't mean dismissal. Or should it?

Not every patient who abuses prescriptions is just out for a good time or a quick buck. Here's how to recognize prescription-abusers, and what do to do about them.