Are you a patient of Dr Tafur or Laureen
 

There have been many rumors about what has happened to Dr Tafur and Lauren. Here is the real information. He sold his practice a few months ago. He is currently on sabbatical . He has not left the area and hopefully return to practice in the future. He and Lauren are well and will be staying in the area. I hope this helps put all the false rumors to bed

What do you think you're doing bringing facts to this board? Rumor mongering is much more fun!
:bigbow:

Wonder why the Dr didnt tell this to his patients?

We are patients of Dr. Tafur and Lauren. We were just there in June and have appointments in December. They did bring on a new doctor, Dr. Thompson , and two long time office staff members have left recently. We have not heard anything about the practice being sold.

to whom did he sell it?

We just called Dr. Tafurs' office. It is true, he and Lauren are no longer there.

Thanks for the update. He is my PCP but haven't had to see him in 3 years.

So they sold the practice and didn’t inform any of theirs patients. That would be a legal violation. All patients must be informed and told where their medical records will be and how they can have them forwarded to a different doctor if they need to.

IYou are correct. Until now, we weren't aware that state and federal law requires patients be notified of the sale, disposition of records, etc. This appears to be done by mail. We haven't received notification yet by any means.
We both really like Dr. Tafur and Lauren and have seen them for well over a decade. And we wish them nothing but the best. That said, with both of us having upcoming appointments, we feel put on the spot and being nudged towards seeing Dr. Thompson, who we do not know. I'm not opposed to seeing him once, but my better half has serious reservations.
We'll figure this out soon. Again our best wishes to Doc and Lauren.

Since the physical office didn’t move, I would think all medical records are there.

Misinformation.

Lauren
 

I have been a patient of hers for 15 years. I was so sick to my stomach when I heard this. Hopefully we can find them in the future as I have a long history with her. It’s hard to find a good GP/taking new patients.
My husband has been seeing her for 2 years.
Wish them the best. Take a much deserved rest but please relocate. Sue C

Why in the world would you want to go back to a doctor who didn’t care enough to let their patients know they were abandoning them??!?!? Dodged a bullet by looking at their reviews online. They literally have so many 1 star reviews.

Standard practice, a physician, sells their practice, part of that agreement is transfer of the patient’s and all medical files. Usually a clause staff and physician will not disclose sale to patients. Otherwise selling an office space without practice wouldn’t command any $$”. New or recently relocated physician can start seeing patients on the books immediately. I have actually witnessed same Sale, when Father retires, and Son buys the practice. Patients informed at visit “Dad retired I have taken over as your physician” Most patients will stay with that passed on practice, mainly due to loyalty and age.

Then said patients upon first visit can meet with new physician, and owner of practice. If patient is unhappy with new physician/owner, one can request medical records and look for a new physician.

If a physician chooses to retire and doesn’t or can’t sell practice, a letter is sent to patients informing of the closing of practice. With specific instructions on where to acquire medical records.

Yes, I understand that. My point was in reference to the person “hoping they can find them wherever they are now” Personally, I wouldn’t want to find them vs finding a new better doctor.

I sold my practice at the beginning of the year. There is a clause in the contract that states "I AM RESPONSIBLE" for informing my existing patients about the sale and the transfer of records... I have been personally telling my patients of the impending changes for the last 5-6 months. Although my contract officially ends 12/31/2024, the new owner has asked me to stay a bit longer to help with the transition. I agreed, with the stipulation that I will take off X-Mas thru New Years, all of February and part of March. I'll be back to work mid-March thru April, and then we will re-visit my permanent exit...

Now, when a child joins an existing practice (as I did almost 40 years ago, not the practice I sold), my father had no intention of retiring any time soon and I was simple introduced as "my son, who is joining the practice"... The patients had a choice as to whom they wanted to see.

I stayed with him for 5-6 years, during which time I opened a 2nd practice (very close to my home) and bought out the practice where I've spent the last 38.5 years.

After I moved again, I sole the 2nd practice (which I had started from scratch) and slowly eased put of my father's practice, and let him sell it to someone else (as I didn't have the time to properly service the practice and the sale added to HIS retirement)...

Legally, the medical files belong to THE PATIENT. The physician is simply a custodian of those files. He/she must retain those files for 5 years (or 5 years past a child's 18th birthday. In some States it's only until they are 21, or for 5 years, whichever is later..

The key word in the original post is sabbatical. Being on sabbatical means you are still part of the organization, simply not presently working. So he is not elsewhere, he is still there but, the law requires on any sale, merger, or transfer that the patient be notified before completing the sale, merger or transfer He may have sold it to the new doctor there, or he may have sold it to an organization that buys practices, and he would now be an employee of that practice as would the new doctor.

If he actually leaves the practice, retires etc. then the practice may notify the patients of a retirement or departure, but this is separate from the issue of whether the law requires notification of the change of ownership of the practice.

My last visit was Oct. 28. Asked him about rumors spreading he was retiring. He replied he would be around at least 7 more years. Called for my test results and he is gone??? With him over 12 years. He is outstanding. I wish him and the family well. If anyone hears he opened in a new location, PLEASE let me know. I will follow .

When you sell a business you include the clientele in the sale.

Prescription refills and new staff.
 

Both I and my mother have experienced problems with getting out prescriptions refilled. I also asked for the current doctor, Thompson, to call me.
After calling them back twice and informing them I was speaking about them to the doc if he ever returned my call - they sent in all my refills - even stuff I no longer take.
Just recently they did not fill my mom’s heart medicine. We will go in person and if they have no legitimate answer we will get it filled by her cardiologist and find a new physician.