Health care providers: how to get rid of a patient?

Someone will sarcastically ask me if I have forgotten the oath I took in medical school (to love and help all patients~~~). But consider this: patients can ALWAYS switch their doctors if they are not happy with them. Total freedom. So why do I have to endure with some OUTRAGEOUS patients who drive me beyond crazy?

(1) A grandmother that always comes in with the mother and contradicts her and yaks non-stop about the child (the patient). She wastes so much of my time and I can never get a clear history. We are trying to keep her in the waiting room to no avail.
(2)A mother who insists on getting unnecessary referrals for the kid (nose specialist for nosebleed, skin specialist for a pimple), and she threatens to sue everyone who refuses her request
(3)Another mother and teen daughter don't talk to each other and slam exam room door in turn.

I have about a dozen. Of course you can send a letter to terminate, but...they will get p*ssed. Other ways?

Turtle not seeing a particular patient is always tough. In the grandmother case I would take the child and interview her alone, then follow up with the mother, the grandmother has no right to be there and you can utilize HIPPA to ask her to leave. With the mother who keeps on insisting on referrals, politely but firmly let her know that there is insurance issues regarding the referrals and you are not about to break any medicare guidelines with unnecessary referrals (or what ever insurance co it is). With the door slammers again politely but firmly insist that the kind of behaviour is not acceptable at your office and if they insist then they will have to find somewhere else to go. They are all going to be pissed anyway, but being pissed in your practice for 3-4 minutes will be worth getting rid of the poor behaviour. You are never going to eliminate it from your office but getting it to a minimum is worth the small amount of pain you go through.

people are crazy! Sorry to hear about your problems they will move eventially hopefully to another state then you will be fine

1) When asking the question direct it to the mother or the patient, if the grandmother interrupts, tell her nicely" I'm sorry, I need the information from the pt or mother."
2) Give her the referrals to begin with. Why waste your time trying to convince her, that the child is ok.
3) Remind them they are in a hospital/ clinic and they disturb other clients when they slam the door.
Or Don't waste your time and termnate them, they will get happy in the same pants they got mad in.
Good Luck!

I'm not a health care provider, but hope you don't mind my sharing a patient advocate's point of view. As a health care provider, you have your hands full doing your best by your patients. You owe it to yourself and to your patients to maintain the best possible working situation for both yourself and your patients. While I can understand your not wanting them as patients, why be concerned if terminating them does p*ss them off?

One thing I would like to point out from a patient's point of view is that patients can't ALWAYS switch their doctors. Patients have to consider their insurance networks and other issues. Switching doctors is often an absolute nightmare. There is actually less and less freedom for patients to choose their providers.

Good luck with this. Our son is a doctor, and I network with many health care professionals in my work. The patients you describe would make things extraordinarily difficult for you and your staff and uncomfortable for other patients who hear door slamming, etc.

When they try to make another appointment, why can't you just tell them you are booked full until --whatever date--like a good 5 to 6 months away..Most people will not want to wait that long and will look for someone else. and if they do wait and come back, wait longer before letting back again.
Or else you could just tell them ---they are to disruptive and you will no longer be able to provide their health care. It would be better for them to seek alternative services.
Be firm, and if they get mad. To bad.
If you be honest and tell them your reasons, they might decide they need to learn how to behave in public and you might make it a little easier for their next provider.
Good luck

It depends if you are in your own practice, or if you work for someone. I am a solo practicitioner: if someone is a total yank, waste of time, or hole in my life, I can say "I just don't think we are a good fit - here is a list of other therapists in the area that may be able to help you."

If they get pi$$ed, who cares? They can go be that way somewhere else! It's not the people you fire who make your life miserable, it's the people you DON'T fire.

If you have an employer, they may have a policy you need to follow in getting rid of patients. Look into that with the boss.

In general though, I'd just say to the patient "Look, I find your behavior unacceptable. I can't tolerate it, and so you will have to find another doctor." As long as there is another doctor reasonably available, they cannot claim abandonment.

Good luck!

limit your consultation time by asking direct question on only sign&symptoms of the disease,&limit the attenders in your consultation chamber to one