When you decide to retire from your dental practice, it is essential to notify your patients. The best way to send a notification to all patients is with a physical letter informing them of your retirement. If you are unsure what to include in a dentist retirement letter, we are here to help. In this article, we will provide advice for crafting a letter that you can personalize and send to patients.
In addition, we’ve included a template retirement letter to patients at the bottom of the article that you can customize and use.
Why You Need a Retirement Letter
Meet Your Legal Requirements
First, there are certain legal requirements that must be met when you retire. If you retire from your practice without notifying patients, you are at risk for patient abandonment claims. These claims can result in legal and financial consequences, disrupting your retirement plans. State laws often dictate notification requirements, such as how far in advance patients must be informed—typically at least 60 days.
Help Your Patients Plan for the Future
Secondly, if you are retiring and either closing or selling your dental practice, your patients need to be informed so they can plan for their future dental care. If you are retiring but your practice will continue with other dentists, you may refer your patients to colleagues in your office. Alternatively, if selling or closing the practice, you should provide recommendations for other dentists in the community. Helping your patients transition smoothly reflects positively on your dedication to their oral health.
Show That You Care
Lastly, a retirement letter shows your patients that you care about them, even as you step away. Over the years, you’ve built trust with your patients, often caring for multiple generations of families. A thoughtful and personalized retirement letter demonstrates respect and a continued commitment to their well-being, leaving a positive lasting impression.
What to Include in a Dentist Retirement Letter
When writing your retirement letter, it’s important to include specific information to help your patients understand the transition and make arrangements for their future dental care. Key elements to include are:
- Date of Closure (if applicable): If your retirement involves closing your dental practice, include the exact closure date.
- Reason for Closure (if applicable): Explain why you’re retiring or closing the practice, keeping it brief and professional.
- Patient Record Information: Provide details about how patients can access their dental records, including the custodian of records and contact information.
- New Dentist Recommendations: Offer references for other dental professionals who can continue their care. Include contact details to make the transition easier.
Example Dentist Retirement Letter
Below is a sample retirement letter you can use as a starting point. Customize it with your information and print it on your practice’s letterhead.
Dear Patients:
I am writing to inform you that I will be retiring and closing my dental practice effective [Date]. I will no longer be able to provide dental care or services after this date. This was a difficult decision, as providing care to you and your families has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career.
[Optional: Include a brief personal reason or message about your decision to retire.]
To ensure the continuity of your dental care, I encourage you to transition to another dentist as soon as possible. I recommend the following dental practices for your consideration:
[Dentist Name], [Practice Name], [Phone Number]
[Dentist Name], [Practice Name], [Phone Number]
After [date] all patient records will be sent to Desert River Solutions to be the custodian of medical records. Starting on [date] please start requesting your medical records from Desert River Solutions. To request your medical record please visit the site below to sign and return the medical release form. All instructions are on that webpage:
www.DesertRiverSolutions.com/requests-basham
Below is all other contacts for Desert River Solutions:
[email protected] (Email)
480-577-3150 (Phone)
520-214-0068 (Fax)
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
