The General Rules and Regulations Governing the Practice of Medicine in Tennessee, promulgated by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, provides requirements for notice to patients when a physician departs from a group medical practice.
According to Rule 0880-02-.15, the responsibility for notifying patients of a physician who leaves a group practice whether by death, retirement or departure shall be governed by the physician’s employment contract
Whomever is responsible for that notification must notify patients seen by the physician in his/her office during the immediately preceding thirty-six (36) months of his/her departure, except that this notification requirement shall not apply to a patient when there have been fewer than two (2) office patient encounters within the immediately preceding eighteen (18) months.
Except where otherwise governed by provisions of the physician’s contract, those patient shall also be notified of the physician’s new address and offered the opportunity to have copies of their medical records forwarded to the departing physician at his or her new practice. Provided, however, a group shall not withhold the medical records of any patient who has authorized their transfer to the departing physician or any other physician.
The choice of physicians in every case should be left to the patient, and the patient should be informed that upon authorization his/her records will be sent to the physician of the patient’s choice.
