At any stage of our careers, we psychiatrists are busy planning for the future. We all hope to practice as long as we want and to have retirements that proceed at our preferred pace. But as we make our plans, we need to acknowledge that the future doesn’t always go the way we expect. Life can intervene in unpredictable ways and make even the best laid plans go awry. Recognizing these possibilities is an important part of a psychiatrist’s responsibilities; doing so can greatly ease the turbulence when stormy conditions arise. To help in situations where a psychiatrist must unexpectedly close their practice, the APA Ethics Committee has recently updated a resource document that assists with planning in advance for such unanticipated and often difficult situations.

As psychiatrists, our primary ethical obligations are to our patients. We have a responsibility to be available, particularly during times of crisis, and to ensure continuity of care for patients needing ongoing treatment. When unforeseen events such as sudden illness or death occur, the psychiatrists’ personal needs and capacities may prevent them from fulfilling their responsibilities. If a psychiatrist is unexpectedly unable to practice, many complications arise. Patients may not know where to go for medication refills or who to call for help managing active treatment plans. Office staff may face uncertainty about coverage schedules or their own careers. Colleagues who step in to help may struggle to unravel unfamiliar clinical and administrative processes. The psychiatrist’s family, friends, and colleagues may be grieving or processing a major life adjustment all while attempting to navigate the complexities of the psychiatrist’s clinical and business obligations.

Psychiatrists can ease the tumult of such situations by planning ahead. The Resource Document on Preparing in Advance: What Every Psychiatrist and Their Family Should Know About Planning for Unexpected Practice Closures can help psychiatrists clarify the complexities of their practice and provide peace of mind for themselves, their colleagues, and their family. By appointing a Special Administrator who will oversee clinical and administrative issues, and by organizing information about medical records, prescribing, billing, licensure, and many other practice matters, psychiatrists can reduce confusion and minimize disruptions of care. The resource document details the many complexities of closing a practice, including ethical obligations, privacy concerns, financial issues, and administrative tasks. It also includes several worksheets that psychiatrists can adapt to their unique practice environment. These documents can help organize information in ways that allow colleagues and family to carry out the task of closing a psychiatrist’s practice.

As the saying goes, “Man plans and God laughs.” But even though we can’t predict the future of our lives and our careers, psychiatrists can plan in advance for even the most unwelcome eventualities. We invite you to utilize this document, The Resource Document on Preparing in Advance: What Every Psychiatrist and Their Family Should Know About Planning for Unexpected Practice Closures, to create a specific plan for your practice and help you, your colleagues, and your family feel more at ease with whatever the future may bring.

See more resources on managing a practice.