12/13/2023    

RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PM ARTICLES) -PART 1

RE: Closure of a Practice

From Ron Werter DPM 

 

Dr. Kobak has written an in-depth article in PM Magazine about closing a practice. There is one item I have a question about: preserving the charts. When we all had paper charts, we could put them in boxes and take them home or have a company store them for 7 years  Now, most of us have an EHR which is administered by a vendor. What is the best way of retaining those charts? Are there known problems with asking the vendor to copy all the data and allow it to be accessible if you no longer have their program. 

 

Ron Werter, DPM, NY, NY

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12/14/2023    

RESPONSES/COMMENTS (PM ARTICLES) -PART 1

RE: Closure of a Practice (Ron Werter, DPM)

From: James Koon, DPM

 

I closed my practice 8 years ago to join a multi-specialty clinic. I got one records request in the 7 years I had to keep the records. One. I called the requestor and was released from it as my contribution was nominal. I simply kept my server. My vendor, MacPractice, assured me that IF I ever needed a chart, they would be able to pull it off my server no matter how many software updates transpired. For a fee. I never needed it.

 

We did have some residual paper charts that I rented a storage space for and pared them yearly. I paid to have them shredded. I also sold my x-rays for the silver recovery. Both were an expensive and laborious endeavor. In retrospect, I should’ve just had a big bonfire and partied with friends. 

 

Closing a practice takes longer than you think and costs more than you think. Bills come out of thin air for months. Banking costs, vendor contract terminations, x-ray equipment decommissioning costs, files, legal notifications, etc. I don’t envy anyone doing it. I love being an employed physician. 

 

James Koon, DPM, Winter Haven, FL