I always have that same little twinge when the request to transfer comes in. If they've transfered to another primary care physician, I don't feel any obligation to them any further (?hurt feelings?). If they call for an appointment later, I generally treat it as any other "new" patient and work them in accordingly. If it becomes a pattern of doctor shopping, then I wish them well and no longer allow any appointments. D. Fry > On occasion I have had a family ask for records to be transferred to a > different physician's office. Sometimes because of a change in insurance > plans but other times because they felt that their children's health would > benefit from this change. It always hurts a bit when this happens but as I > grow older it doesn't seem to bother me as much. Many times a parent who's > child's full chart was copied and sent will call in the following months or > year for an appointment. These are not children who have moved and come > back but who were for one reason or another unhappy with our office care in > the past. Am I obligated to see them? Is the transfer of records in > itself an end to my medical obligations when they show up in the ER and > list me as their pediatrician? Does anybody send a letter to the families > wishing them well and stating that with this transfer of records you will > no longer be available as their pediatrician? Surely this happens > elsewhere. Thanks Kim Burlingham, MD