PRACTICE TRANSITION AND SUCCESSION PLANNING

When a physician expresses an interest to retire or leave their practice, top-of-mind is likely “what will happen to my patients when I leave?”. In the new Master Agreement, departing physicians are able to request an incoming physician be recruited to overlap with them as they wind-down their practice. Family physicians will have a maximum four-week transition period, specialists will have eight weeks and a surgeon is entitled to a 12-week transition period. The hope is that departing physicians will be able to transition their practice to incoming physicians while still being present to facilitate the transition and “show them the ropes”.
During the period of overlap, the departing physicians and incoming physicians will share a patient panel, physical space, staffing and allotted resources (i.e. OR time, etc.).

ELIGIBILITY FOR DEPARTING PHYSICIANS

• All payment modalities
• Must provide Health PEI six-months’ notice of planned departure
• Must agree to cease practice (and payment) in any pay modality on a specified date*
• Must sign a transition agreement

*Written permission may be granted to provide periodic medical services in the future (i.e. surgical assist or locum coverage).

SEE MASTER AGREEMENT ARTICLE A20, page 13