N.M. Admin. Code § 16.21.12.9 - CLOSING, SELLING, RELOCATING OR LEAVING A PRACTICE
Due care should be taken when closing or departing from a practice to ensure a smooth transition from the current podiatrist to the new treating podiatrist. This should occur with a minimum of disruption in the continuity and quality of medical care being provided to the patient. Whenever possible, notification of patients is the responsibility of the current treating podiatrist.
A. Active
patients and patients seen within the previous three years must be notified at
least 30 days before closing, selling, relocating or leaving a
practice.
B. Whenever possible,
patients should be notified within at least 30 days after the death of their
podiatrist.
C. Notification may be
satisfied using any of the following methods:
(1) by placing a notice in at least one
newspaper in the local practice area; notice should advise patients where their
medical records will be stored; notice should include any pertinent information
the patient may need for obtaining or transferring the records, including the
name, mailing address and telephone number of a contact person with access to
the stored records; notification should run a minimum of two times per month
for three months to reach a maximum number of patients; or
(2) by written or electronic mail;
or
(3) by individual correspondence
to the patient's last known physical or electronic mail address.
D. Notification should include:
(1) responsible entity/agent name of contact
to obtain records or request transfer of records, telephone number and mailing
address;
(2) how the records can be
obtained or transferred;
(3) how
long the records will be maintained before they are destroyed; and
(4) cost of recovering/transferring
records.
E. A podiatrist
or podiatrist group should not withhold patient lists or other information from
a departing podiatrist that is necessary for notification of
patients.
F. Patients of a
podiatrist who leaves a group practice must be notified the podiatrist is
leaving, notified of the podiatrist's new address and offered the opportunity
to have their medical records transferred to the departing podiatrist at their
new practice.
G. When a practice is
sold, all active patients must be notified that the podiatrist is transferring
the practice to another podiatrist or entity who will retain custody of their
records and that at their written request the records (or copies) will be sent
to another podiatrist or entity of their choice.
Notes
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