Anyone know what happened to Dr. Lundergan

[Madam Blue]

I had an appointment today at Chesapeake and Washington Heart care in Waldorf. When I arrived I was informed that Dr. Lundergan and a couple other senior doctors were no longer there. The receptionist would not divulge any information as to what happened. I have been a patient for nine years and would really like to know if he opened a new office.

[baby]

Originally Posted by Madam Blue

I had an appointment today at Chesapeake and Washington Heart care in Waldorf. When I arrived I was informed that Dr. Lundergan and a couple other senior doctors were no longer there. The receptionist would not divulge any information as to what happened. I have been a patient for nine years and would really like to know if he opened a new office.

WOW! I have not heard this....he is my heart doctor. Please if anyone hears anything please post.

[Madam Blue]

I have a follow up app at their Old Line Center office today. I will try to get some info out of the staff. Most of the receptionist I talked to yesterday were pretty tight lipped about the docs leaving.

[JLS]

One of my Dr's are at Ches & Wash Heart Care and I heard he is no longer there as well and wondered what happened - Dr. Bartoszyk... What happened?!?!

Originally Posted by Madam Blue

I had an appointment today at Chesapeake and Washington Heart care in Waldorf. When I arrived I was informed that Dr. Lundergan and a couple other senior doctors were no longer there. The receptionist would not divulge any information as to what happened. I have been a patient for nine years and would really like to know if he opened a new office.

[RidgeChick]

This happened to me a few years ago when one of my doctors left a group -- and Dr. Lundergan is my dad's heart doctor. This conspiracy of silence when a doctor leaves is so disturbing. To me it proves that doctor's egos are bigger than their hearts (the ones who wont give out the new contact info) -- what happened to the hippocratic oath? aren't patients rights more important at this point????

[FLHBABE]

It appears that Lundergan, Bartoszyk, Collins, and Trabb may all be gone from the practice and they are bringing in 3 new doctors - on the 14th they will be able to release more information - not sure what will be released - am hopeful they are still practicing and I will be able to continue with Dr. B at a new location!

[migtig]

Originally Posted by RidgeChick

This happened to me a few years ago when one of my doctors left a group -- and Dr. Lundergan is my dad's heart doctor. This conspiracy of silence when a doctor leaves is so disturbing. To me it proves that doctor's egos are bigger than their hearts (the ones who wont give out the new contact info) -- what happened to the hippocratic oath? aren't patients rights more important at this point????

My doctor left her practice as have a few other doctors in that same practice.

From my understanding, when a doctor is in a group practice they have to sign a "no compete" clause/contract. Depending on that clause, they (the doctor) may be out of practice for at least a year (or even longer) or need to go into a different field - ie a family doctor working emergency room. A group practice means the patients of that practice belong to the group not the individual doctor.

This isn't about the doctor's ego. It's about group practice policies. Those policies are what prevent you from finding out what happened to your favorite doctor.

And from what I understand, due to ObamaCare regulations, many small medical group practices being bought out by medical "chains", things are getting much more difficult for individual doctors to provide the level of care they want to and feel comfortable with. There are many doctors who are choosing to leave the medical profession completely. Which is a real shame.

[JLS]

I talked to someone at the office and was told that next week possibly a forwarding phone # would be released... Kinda wondered.. was their practice (and I go to Leonardtown) attached to MedStar? If no, maybe they went out on their own - to hook in with MedStar? and Bertele and them aren't? Jus a thought ?? not sure if any of that is true.. just wondered..

Originally Posted by FLHBABE

It appears that Lundergan, Bartoszyk, Collins, and Trabb may all be gone from the practice and they are bringing in 3 new doctors - on the 14th they will be able to release more information - not sure what will be released - am hopeful they are still practicing and I will be able to continue with Dr. B at a new location!

[officeguy]

Originally Posted by migtig

My doctor left her practice as have a few other doctors in that same practice.

From my understanding, when a doctor is in a group practice they have to sign a "no compete" clause/contract. Depending on that clause, they (the doctor) may be out of practice for at least a year (or even longer) or need to go into a different field - ie a family doctor working emergency room.

A physician leaving the specialty would be rather uncommon. More typically, a physician who has a non-compete will just move to somewhere outside of the area that that contractual obligation applies to. Often those go by county or a distance from the practice location (e.g. 25 miles or 'Charles county and all adjacent MD counties'). So someone who leaves a practice in southern MD may move to northern VA.

Based on Lundergan and Bartoszyks age, I would look for them somewhere in Florida. They may have just sold their share of the practice and gone into semi-retirement, moved to a more tax-friendly environment and chose to only practice in temporary (locums) positions.

This isn't about the doctor's ego. It's about group practice policies. Those policies are what prevent you from finding out what happened to your favorite doctor.

This is about the group practice not wanting to lose your business.

[mAlice]

Originally Posted by RidgeChick

This happened to me a few years ago when one of my doctors left a group -- and Dr. Lundergan is my dad's heart doctor. This conspiracy of silence when a doctor leaves is so disturbing. To me it proves that doctor's egos are bigger than their hearts (the ones who wont give out the new contact info) -- what happened to the hippocratic oath? aren't patients rights more important at this point????

Hmmm...sounds the same as when you lose your hairdresser. Man, tracking 'em down can really suck.