A letter arrives saying your doctor is retiring at the end of the year. Or the letter says the practice is "transitioning to a membership model" and you have a few weeks to decide whether to join. Either way, the doctor who knows your history is about to become unavailable on the terms you are used to, and it is natural to feel unsettled.
The good news is that you have more protection and more options than most people realize. This guide walks through what your doctor owes you, what to do in the first few weeks, and how to decide what comes next.
What Your Doctor Owes You When They Leave
Doctors are not allowed to simply disappear on their patients. The American Medical Association's ethics opinion on ending a patient relationship says a physician must give notice far enough in advance for the patient to find another doctor, and must help with the transfer of care.
Florida adds specific rules. Under Florida Board of Medicine rule 64B8-10.002, a physician who retires or relocates must notify patients, give them the opportunity to transfer or receive their records, and publish a notice saying where the records can be obtained. The records must remain available for at least five years after your last visit.
If your doctor is converting to concierge medicine
A doctor who moves to a membership practice has the same core duty. The AMA's opinion on retainer practices says physicians must help transfer the care of any patient who chooses not to join, and if a transfer is not feasible, keep caring for that patient under their existing insurance until other arrangements can be made. You are never obligated to sign up.
Your First Three Steps
Whatever the reason for the change, these three steps protect you in the meantime.
1. Request a copy of your records now
Under HIPAA you have a legal right to access your medical records, and a practice generally has 30 days to respond. Do not wait for the final week, when the office will be busiest. Ask for recent visit notes, a current medication list, lab results from the past two years, imaging reports, specialist letters, and your vaccination history. A records release sent directly to your new practice works too.
2. Stock up on refills
Ask for enough of each regular prescription to carry you at least three months past the transition date. Gaps are riskiest for medicines that should never be stopped suddenly, such as blood pressure pills, antidepressants, seizure medicines, and blood thinners. Our article on why prescription refills need an office visit explains why a new doctor may want to see you before taking them over.
3. Close the loop on anything pending
Make a list of open items: a test result you have not heard about, a referral that was supposed to be sent, a screening you are due for. Ask the current office who will follow up on each one after the doctor leaves.
Choosing What Comes Next
You usually have three paths: stay in the same practice with a different clinician, join the doctor's new membership if they are converting, or move to a new practice altogether.
Staying in the same practice keeps your chart in one place, which is a real advantage. If your doctor is converting to concierge care, ask whether other doctors or nurse practitioners in the group will keep a traditional panel.
Joining a membership can make sense if you value the relationship and the extra time. Before you sign, get clear answers about what the fee covers and whether the practice still bills your insurance or Medicare for visits. Our guide to whether Medicare covers concierge medicine explains how the two fit together, and Medicare.gov describes what happens if a doctor has opted out of Medicare entirely.
Moving to a new practice is the right call for many people. Our step-by-step guide to finding a primary care doctor in St. Petersburg covers insurance checks, what to ask on the phone, and how to judge fit.
If You Have Medicare Advantage
Many Medicare Advantage HMO plans require you to have a primary care physician on file, and referrals and coverage can depend on it. When your doctor leaves, call the member services number on your card, ask the plan to change your assigned doctor, and confirm the date the change takes effect. Our article on changing primary care doctors walks through the plan side, and the guide to Medicare Advantage versus Original Medicare explains why the rules differ.
Don't Let Chronic Conditions Drift
The biggest risk in a doctor transition is not paperwork. It is months going by without anyone checking on a chronic condition. If you are managing high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, or kidney disease, book the first visit with your new doctor before your refills run out, not after.
Bring your records, your medication bottles or a complete list, and a short summary of your health history. A good new-patient visit is longer than a routine one, because your new doctor is building the whole picture. Our checklist of what to bring to a first visit makes that easier.
How We Can Help
Zimmer Medical Group is welcoming new adult patients in St. Petersburg, including patients whose doctors have retired or converted to concierge care. We offer traditional primary care that works with most insurance plans and Medicare, and a limited concierge membership for patients who want more time and direct access. Our team can help request your records from your previous office.
If your doctor is leaving, call (727) 820-7800 to schedule a new-patient visit before your refills run out. See what to expect at your first visit.
