Dr. Spurrier

[TomOB]

Does anyone know what happened to Dr. Spurrier? I called to make an appointment and the answering service said the office is closed until further notice.

[rn1tv]

He is the best neuro surgeon....let us know if you find out!

[NotGolfer]

Old number maybe....or maybe his office is moving??!!! Let's hope so because he was THE best spine surgeon in our area!!!

[duffysmom]

Dr. Spurrier has closed his practice as of today. No one knows why.

[NotGolfer]

Now that makes me sad! I still have disc issues so always thought I'd be able to have continued care from him in my future. Hopefully someone can tell us where he's going and/or why!! If, in fact, he's leaving it is a loss to our medical community!

I contacted a friend whose in the health-support services in our area. That person had heard from patients about this, the "powers that be" (bosses) couldn't disclose any information. HIPA laws perhaps?? Hopefully this isn't a serious situation!

[TomOB]

I can't find out anything about him or where to get the records I need. The hospital doesn't have him on their list anymore, but the person I talked to thought she remembered that he became ill a few months ago.

[Bethinflorida]

I believe it was because of family problems. He took care of me. He is a great surgeon. He referred all his patients to Dr. Payman for interventional procedures to avoid surgery....I am thankful to Dr. Spurrier for avoiding surgery and I am thankful to Dr Payman for helping me get back to my life with the injections he did.

They were a great team together. Both excellent doctors who truly care.

[gamby]

I have an MRI and referral to him and and he just ups and leaves ! He is the 5th doctor to just close their business without any notice at all in the 20 months I've been here. I had 2 doctors up north close and send notices 30 days prior
Are there any laws requiring notice to patients by doctors closing ?
If not there should be.
I just don't believe the character of these doctors.

[MicheleE]

Heard a RUMOR that he closed his practice because he and his wife are divorcing and he doesn't want to give her any future money.....she told him she would take him to the cleaners and he wouldn't have it. I can't imagine a very successful, well liked and popular doctor would do that but?? Don't know if that's the truth or not -just something I heard. I wonder if he will be back to practice after his divorce is final?!?!

[TomOB]

Another TOTV rumor?

[CFrance]

Heard a RUMOR that he closed his practice because he and his wife are divorcing and he doesn't want to give her any future money.....she told him she would take him to the cleaners and he wouldn't have it. I can't imagine a very successful, well liked and popular doctor would do that but?? Don't know if that's the truth or not -just something I heard. I wonder if he will be back to practice after his divorce is final?!?!
I know a surgeon in MI who did that exact same thing for the exact same reason, and never did go back to practicing. I guess he has enough dough to live happily ever after.

[rn1tv]

Sad that we are judging a wonderful doctor based on hearsay.

[applesoffh]

Sad that we are judging a wonderful doctor based on hearsay.

Yes, it is sad. What does that say about us?:confused:

[dbussone]

Sad that we are judging a wonderful doctor based on hearsay.

Amen.

[TomOB]

I asked my GP today about Dr. Spurrier as I was referred to him. His practice is closed and it seems that the divorce rumors referred to earlier in this thread may be true. He was of retirement age and may have just decided to pack it in. I still don't know where to get records from him or where to go for the surgery I need.

[rn1tv]

As a retired RN, BSN from TVRH, I have the highest respect for Dr. Dan Spurrier. In a time of crisis, he saved my husband's life in performing a craniotomy for which I will be forever grateful!

[NotGolfer]

If he is gone...well it seems he is....I pray we can get someone of his quality and expertise here! We, who are enrolled in The Villages Health System should strongly suggest they recruit someone for their specialty team!!

[dbussone]

Sad that we are judging a wonderful doctor based on hearsay.

Unfortunately that is all too common on this blog. Emotions speak out in an overwhelming voice. Bedside manner is weighed more heavily than skill and knowledge. It just frustrates the dickens out of me. I have worked with docs, and know how to judge them as a result of working with them for 35 years.

[dominojc]

I have had 3 surgeries by Dr. Spurrier and although I had a scary outcome the first time, he saved my spinal cord and me from being a quadriplegic. I agree it is a great loss to our community. I believe the rumors are true, however if a divorce decree can cripple a person financially to the point that he is no longer able to keep an office open, pay his insurances and staff , pay for privileges at a hospital, (etc. I have no idea what it costs to run a medical practice!) then there is definitely something wrong with our legal system and perhaps that decision should be re-visited. I don't know the circumstances but from my understanding he just couldn't do it financially. I for one am so sorry that it has come to this as I recommend him all the time and I know people who were hoping to get into see him. I just pray there is some resolution and that he will be back in our community soon because I do believe he enjoyed his work and had a staff that loved working with him.

[zonerboy]

I don't see why we should expect a doctor to keep on working just because there is some one out there who wants an appointment. Doctors should be able to retire, move to another location, change occupations, etc., etc. just like any other persons in this country.

[kansasr]

Perhaps there wouldn't be as much hearsay if this practice had the decency to contact former patients of give them some way of finding information...to just close in the middle of the night, turn off the phones and just leave is very unethical in my opinion.

[bachfan]

I work in the Medical field in TV and that is what we heard also.

[gamby]

kansasr,


Total agreement with you !

You can be the best doctor in the world,
but if you don't show up for work what good are you !

[NotGolfer]

I've heard of doctor's who are retiring (for any reason) sending out letters to their patients (former and present) to inform them of their leaving the practice. With this they also would say "If you want your records, let us know and you can come pick them up"! Maybe even a notice in the newspaper if that isn't a convenient process for them would suffice as well.

I agree that to find out in an abrupt way (such as not getting through with a phone call) or through "social media" or "word of mouth" isn't a professional way of conducting a business.

[zonerboy]

Dr.'s have no obligation to keep working if they no longer want to (who wants to be treated by a doc who doesn't really want to be there?).
But they most definitely DO have a moral and ethical obligation to make the medical records of current and former patients available to those who might want them. And for a reasonable period of time (at least a year, IMHO).
Any doctor who does not fulfill this obligation may not have been as great as others thought he was.