It is the policy of Avanta Clinic LLC to maintain a cooperative and trusting provider relationship with its patients. When such a provider-patient relationship has not been formed or a provider-patient relationship is no longer proceeding in a mutually productive manner, it is the policy of this practice to terminate the provider-patient relationship. This policy is within the bounds of applicable state and federal laws and the American Medical Association (AMA) guidelines.
As such, this policy allows the patient to develop a trusting relationship with another provider that is essential to successful continued care and treatment.
Procedure:
The provider identifies a patient with whom the provider-patient relationship has not been established or that has been affected negatively. The types of circumstances that can result in termination include, but are not limited to, the following:
Non compliance with treatment regimen
Non compliance with office policies (e.g. using patient portal, secure messaging via patient portal or after hours phone lines inappropriately)
Failure to pay outstanding balance on time
Not showing up for appointment 3 times (No Show)
Reschedule 3 times within 1 business day or 24 hours (which ever is earlier) of scheduled appointment
Rescheduling or cancelling appointments 3 times in a row regardless of the time of scheduled appointment (i.e. even if scheduled appointment is more than 1 business day/24 hours from time of cancellation/reschedule)
Unprofessional, disrespectful, threatening or abusive behavior directed at office staff, providers, other healthcare providers, or patients
Online “bullying” of provider and/or staff using portal messages
Online “bullying” of provider/staff/practice using any media, including online media (e.g. giving bad reviews or threatening to give a bad review to try to force providers/practice/staff to write-off outstanding payments, provide inappropriate prescriptions or treatment regimen, letters for time-off for work etc)
Lying, deceiving or making attempts to deceive the practice staff and providers
Stealing from the practice (the police will be informed)
Misusing or abusing prescription medications
Non-professional behaviour in the office such as lying on the couch, putting feet up on furniture. This applies to any person or child that is accompanying the patient.
If children accompanying the patient are being disruptive, the appointment will be canceled immediately. If continued disruptive behavior in subsequent visit patient will be terminated from practice.
Any other reason that leads to provider-patient/practice relationship not forming and/or deterioration (e.g. loss of trust in each other). In this case the practice may dismiss the patient from the practice as in the provider’s professional opinion the patient may receive better care with another provider/practice that they can form a better provider-patient relationship.
The patient, or caregiver responsible for caring for the patient will be informed in person/phone or a letter will be sent notifying them of termination of relationship and discharge from practice. If applicable, the provider will refill any prescriptions for 30 days from the date of the conversation/letter. This information will be documented in the patient’s medical record.