A letter from a Cleveland-based University Hospitals physician serves as a reminder that the patient-physician relationship is a two-way street.
Tyra Mone, MD, did not mince words with a Medina County, Ohio patient, writing "Sharon Family Physicians finds it necessary to terminate our patient relationship with you," according to Cleveland.com.
The letter was shared with Cleveland.com's publisher, The Plain Dealer, and gave no reason for the break up. It reads, "We regret that this has become a necessity, however, no further routine professional services will be available to you from this office," according to the report.
Dr. Mone declined to comment, according to the report, due to patient confidentiality.
Todd Zeiger, MD, vice president of UH's Primary Care Institute, told Cleveland.com terminations happen when physicians feel their relationship with the patient is broken, perhaps because of skipped appointments, refusal to take medications or ignoring instructions.
"I can think of only two or three times where I've had to make that decision in 20 years," Dr. Zeiger said, according to the report. "The message I hope the patient receives is that a different provider may be able to meet your needs better."
More articles on integration and physician issues:
UAMS makes physician reviews public
Kansas physicians aim to improve quality, efficiency through nationwide initiative: 4 things to know
Study finds physician bargaining power counterproductive to hospital survival