Closing a Dental Practice: The Devil is in the Details
Author: Paul-Michael La Fayette
In an article published by DentistryIQ on April 12, 2017, Paul-Michael La Fayette discusses the many steps to take when closing a dental practice, moving to another practice or transitioning the practice to a new owner. Dentists much be diligent in alerting their patients to the change with a 60- to 90-day notice in order to avoid allegations of abandonment and risk of malpractice claims. This notice can be given via posting in the patient waiting room, discussions with individual patients, other staff informing patients calling for appointments of the expected closure, including announcement of the closure in invoices. Additionally, dentists should be sure to notify regulatory agencies, third-party payors and colleagues of the transition. Practice owners should also take care that patient records will be preserved for the legal amount of time and that patients can obtain these records, per HIPAA requirements. For the full article, click here.
