When you get ready to close your private practice, for whatever reason, you can’t just shut the door and walk away. Did you know that?  Attorney Richard S. Leslie has written a thoughtful article in the January 2010 issue of the Avoiding Liability Bulletin.  In it he details some of the following for your consideration when you decide to close up shop:

• Ask yourself who needs to be notified – clients, former clients, insurance panels, landlords, supervisees, colleagues and business associates, referral sources, and your licensing boards;
  

  "You Couldn't Have Planned This if You Tried" by Ken Douglas / Today is a Good Day

• Consider the possible circumstances that might result in you closing your door – retirement, geographical relocation, health emergencies, financial circumstances, your own death, your spouse’ or partner’s death,and other unforeseen circumstances;
• Your state may dictate certain actions that you must take when you close your practice;
• Your professional code of ethics and HIPPA will certainly have standards that you must adhere to when closing your practice;
• How to notify existing clients;
• Subsequent maintenance, storage, and access to records;
• How to provide public notice of the closing;
• When and how to notify former clients;
• Why you may not want to terminate liability insurance policies when you close your practice;
• And, in the event of your death or incapacity to handle these things, who does it for you?

Every mental health professional and every professional coach is required to responsibly close their private practice  – regardless of whether their closing is planned or unforeseen.  Whether you’ve been in business for years or you are just now getting started, now is the time to take the steps necessary to prepare for the eventual closure of your practice.