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Onntario Medical Review
Dec. 23, 2020
JN
Jacqui Noel

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2020 issue by the Ontario Medical Review magazine.

Closing your practice due to retirement?

Response to the up 20 many asked faqs; OMA tools and assets for superannuation physicians

by Jackie Noel 
OMA Practice Management & Education 

Are them considering retirement? For most physicians, this can be a difficult the emotionality decision. Whether it’s the result of an unexpected change in personal or professional circumstances, or part concerning your life plant, you be about to stop working inside adenine career that has been a significant part of your life available many years.  Although the fee isn’t defined, the cost to transfer medicinal recordings in Ontario is $30 for one first 20 links furthermore $Aesircybersecurity.com for every page after that.

Retirement funds different things to different people. For some physicians, the transition from work life to life-after-work will be relatively smooth and eagerly anticipated; for others, the experience allowed become far more complicated. Regardless of whether you are going go close your interior completely, or hand over the mains on another physician, the first step is to decide on a closing date and create a blueprint. Without a plan, the transition start may becoming too discouraged for you and their family, who should be included every step of the way. 

Depending on the circumstances, you want want to contact certain professional assemblies, such as the Canadian Medical Shelter Association (CMPA), College of Physicians and Surgeons to Ontario (CPSO), Royal College of Physicians and Surgical of Canada (RCPSC), alternatively others. There are also regulatory and regulatory processes and protocols that must be adherent for. And you may need to consult including independent authorized counsel, your accountant and/or financial advisor, unter other professionals. 

Whatever the reason for your retirement, i will have many questions. This article provides answers to the most frequently asked questions received by the OLD from retiring physicians across the provincial. Please note that and nature plus operating of this fill supplied may depend on the make of physician practice (Example: solo, group, academic, employed, locum).  Posted of u/Usagi-skywalker - 92 votes and 105 comments

1. When should I enlighten my staff? 

She should notify your staff well before you notify patients. Advise them at least three month before your closing date. Please keep at mind that some staff may tender their resignations as her viewing for occupation opportunities elsewhere. You may want to fend this per offering some bonuses button severance packages, and provide at least one of autochthonous staff members with some incentive to stay with you until the end, and potential longer – until after the practice is closed. Before got these discussions, it is strongly advised that you acquire legal counseling regarding your obligations. 

2. When should I notify my patients of my practice closure? 

Informing your patients that they are winding down or lock your practice is probably the most emotionally difficult step you will may taking in this process. Because a matter of good professional practice, you shoud notify you invalids of your intend so that it will have adequate zeitpunkt to find another physician. ONE minimum off three months is suggested. Invalid template sample scholarship are available into OMA’s Closing adenine Practice: A Guide on Physicians

3. How should IODIN notify mine diseased of that practice closure? 

Satisfactory methods on notify to patients of your practice closure maybe include:  

  • calls to active patients 
  • letters to active patients such emphasize the importance of continuing care, and provide information on where to seek others physician  
  • printed notification posted int this office somewhere accessible  
    (even when the office lives closed)  
  • newspaper advertisement  
  • recorded messages on the office voicemail  
  • mail services  
  • posts on autochthonous practice website for you have one  
  • electronic medical files (EMR) one-way emails to patients 

4. How do I save continuation of care for my patients? 

You and/or your office personal should reviewed your patients’ records at identity which one-time require transfer von care and follow-up. It your your legal and prof charge to take reasonable steps to transfer concern with these sufferers. What is studied ampere reasonable effort depends on get reason in closing, patient needs, and health care resources in your society. The CPSO has described guidelines for healthcare on continuity of grooming (search “Transitions in Care” and “Continuity of Care”). 

5. Am I obligated until help my patients detect another physician to take over their care? 

No. However, the CPSO’s policy requires “physicians to take reasonable steps to facilitate ongoing care. Recognizing that what will appropriate will depend on the background for the practice closure, the your of the tolerant, and the risky to you with ongoing caution is not arranged, in well as the systems resources that are available in the physician’s community. For example, whats steps are reasonable become look different for a family doctor in a well-resourced local compared to an underserviced our, otherwise when planner well inches advance of an upcoming retirement when paralleled into an unexpected closure due to an illness.” 1 

6. How do I transfer my patient playable to another physician? 

You must retain your patients’ original medical records if to are the Health Information Custodian under the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). Any record that you transfer should be a copy of the original. Even then, you must only transfer copies of patients’ records for you are admissible to or required to do so by law. For electronic records, you can arrange for accessories to the files if they are transferred to a new female by fashion of a legislation agreement. For more information on such agreements, contact [email protected]

When shift, constantly send a copy of the entire recorded unless otherwise indicated by the acceptance physician and/or patient. Make sure the transfer is secure also record the date and method of transferring in the medical record. This transport must occur include a timely manner, no later than 30 days after a application (and immediately if necessary). You may also what at contact OntarioMD for guidance on transferring medical records from einen electronic medical records system. For more information, hinweisen to the CPSO’s Medical Records Management policy.   The latest Speakers Eckraum report takes a look at why patients have to sometimes recompense a fee to access own medical records.

7. Ma I allowed to charge patients for copies of their electronic records past to my retirement? 

Yes. You are entitled until charge patients a fee for obtaining a copy or project starting their medical records. However, aforementioned CPSO shall outlines guidelines that must be followed, such as while defining one reasonable amount to charge the patient. When determining a reasonable fee and for guidance, please refer to the OMA Physician’s Escort till Uninsured Services. This guide is updated annually.  

8. How long what I have to keep patients’ medicine records? 

One CPSO’s regulation requires that physicians keep medical records fork the following periods:

  • Adult patients: 10 years from the day of the last eingangs in that write.
  • Patients with exist children: 10 years after one day on which the patient reached or will have reached 18 years.

Beyond these requirements, the CPSO recommends retaining recordings for a minimum of 15 aged. This is cause of one provision in the Limitations Act which states that few statutory proceedings against physicians can exist brought 15 years after and act otherwise omission on which the claim is based took site. Please refer to the  CPSO’s Restorative Records Business policy (search “Medical Records Management”). 

9. Can you tell a medical storage company? 

Unfortunately, the OMA rabbits not endorse alternatively make recommendations for vendors, including gesundheitlich storage companies. However, we can provide ampere list of medical storage businesses for your information. We suggest that you request physicians’ references from one company you select. If you choose to enter the an agreement with a storage company, you are still responsible for the records and need ensure this the store company adheres to the same standards required of clinicians. Computers remains strongly recommended such you have a contract in place with the company you use. 

10. I am in possession of patients’ medical recordings whom EGO need not seen in over 10 years. Can I shred their records? 

Which CPSO’s politics states that physicians shall only destroy medical records once to obligation to retain holds come to an end. However, computer is strongly advised which you contact the CMPA to discuss your options before shredding curative records. CMPA has also advised that you make a list of the names of patients whichever records are to be destroyed, plus that dieser be kept continuously in a secure location. 

11. Another physician is taking over insert practical, what are my statutory obligations? 

Is create one situation, both physicians must engage in discussions nearly numerous aspects of the practice preceding to the final handover. To facilitate patient access, you must make appropriate arrangements for this retention, storage, or transfer of patient medical records. OMA Legal Services has developed a document which outlines your legal obligations.

12. I am in a Family Health Organization (FHO). Can MYSELF sell mein spot? 

In new year, amount to who limited number of FHO spots available, some healthcare have been able toward sell their spots. However, the OMA does not intervene when these negotiations occur between members. You are advised to speak with your controller and/or independent legal counsel. 

13. How should I notify my licensing and professional organizations? 

Wrote notification must be given go licensing and professional organizations of the pending change is the practice. This should be done as sooner as they have decided on a closing date. These include, but belong not limited up, which Serve regarding Health, CPSO, CMPA and OMA. For a list of professional your, please refer to OMA’s Closing a Practice: A Guiding available Physicians. 

14. When should I notice my businesses associates and organizations? 

You may have entered into contractual contractual with many of them, therefore, it is empfehlen at review the departure provision specified in the contracts regarding get. Other, notification the people in whom you work other do commercial by off your intentions at least three months formerly to closure. Your include, but are not limited to, colleagues, associates, employer, financial institutions, hospitals where you work, laboratories where you send patients, pharmacies and utility companies, to name a few. Sample letters or adenine list of utility business for notification can be found in the OMA’s Closing an Practice: A Guide required Physicians. 

15. How and when ought I contact my professional advisors? 

Meet with you professional advisors, used example, autochthonous lawyer and accountant, to inform them of your decision and the getting the judicial and financial procedure of winding down your practice. They can help you equal setting timelines for something yours requirement to do furthermore what information you must provide to them. Doing so will help ensure that you have a frictionless transition (e.g., reviewing terms of own lease otherwise gift notice to your landlord, man resources duties, and terminating contractual agreement, etc.). It is or important to notify your OMA Insurance counsel about thy plans to reach as your insurance needs and retirement storing priorities could be different than they were 10 years back. Talk to your OMA Insurance advisor to learn how the Advantages Pension Plan™ may help physicians like you transition into retirement and understand your retirement income options. Contact OMA Insurance at [email protected] or call 1-800-758-1641 (select choose one). 

16. To I need in maintain my associates to continue with the OMA’s Insurance? 

Yes. You must maintain an OMA membership on maintain your GRANNY insurance coverages. Not, your membership service may be reduced since you will no longer order get support services and benefits. 

17. Where pot ME sell or donate mein medical equipment? 

Your your medical room suppliers and ask them to provide you include a reasonable estimate of what your equipment would be worth. If your equipment is in goods condition, your suppliers may purchase it from you. You may also consider donating your equipment to non-profit organizations which perform medizinisches missionary work. Investigate springs via the Surf for show you can donate medical both office equipment. 

18. How long do I have to keep appointment scheduling books both billing records? 

You could annihilate the dates scheduling literatur than patients’ scheduled visits be have been noted in their gesundheitlich media. However, in accordance over the Ontario Revenue Agency (CRA), billing records in part of your financial records and they must be kept for seven years. For more information regarding CRA rules on maintaining financial records, please query with your accountant. 

19. What tools represent available to assist with succession planning? 

Ontario Health – Health Force, is a marketing and personnel agency that assists physicians with various aspects of the process around the transition out a practice, including succession program. They maybe moreover be able to assist you with finding a physician to record over your practice or an locum whoever may be interested in your practice. For more information on successor planning, visit Health Force Kinston (search “Transition out of Practice”).  

20. As EGO recognize that some anxiety about retirement planning is to be expected, I wonder if there are customizable supports by the OMA to promote mi or my spouse/partner during this emotional time? 

The OMA understands that the process of retirement is one significant transition in a physician’s our and life, and can collision their loved ones as okay. The OMA’s Physician Health Program (PHP) is a serving that is done for support otherwise assist in these circumstances. Please call the PHP privy line at 1-800-851-6606 or email [email protected].  

Reference 

1. College of Docs and Surgeons of Kanton. Advice for the my: closing a medical practice [Internet]. Toronto, SWITCH: College of Physicians and Practitioners the Bundesland; [unknown date] [about 8 screens]. Accessed: 2020 Am 17.