Dr. Gorrell is Tampa Bay's Premiere Wellness & Pain Management MD!

Archive for February, 2012

I have had patients report to me recently that Bush Pain Clinc (Dr. Albert Ford), and Detox and Pain Management (Dr. Keesel) have both closed. Dr. McIntyre of Century Pain Management has closed as well.

When your pain clinic closes it is vital that you contact the sheriff office in the county of the pain clinic that closed as quickly as possible to obtain a copy of your medical record. Often times these clinics are closed and your record is seized for evidence. For another provider to provide continuity of care, it is important that you are able to provide a copy of your records to the next provider. The sherrif’s office is legally obligated to provide you with a copy of your records when this happens and the new pain doctor has a legal obligation to require you to provide a copy of these records.

I have seen patients that have gone to a new provider after their clinic has closed and then the clinic trys to reopen under the guise of being just “wellness” medicine. This is often just a way for the clinic to try to circumvent the law and the ordinances put into place by the state of Florida & the respective counties. Some of these clinics have called patients that have relocated and tried to entice them back. Unfortunately for these patients that go back, this strategy quickly catches up with these clinics and they are once again closed. The patients that were displaced sometimes try to return to the other physician that they established with in the interim and sometimes find themselves in violation of exlusive narcotic agreements and in some cases, now guilty of doctor shopping. Remember that the legal definition of doctor shopping is getting prescriptions for any DEA scheduled drugs from 2 or more different doctors without their knowledge. This includes benzodiazepines like Xanax, Valium, and Ativan which are schedule 4 drugs. If you are a pain patient, it is your responsibility to make sure that all doctors involved in your care are in communication with each other and are aware of everything that you’re being prescribed. This includes emergency room visits. If not, especially now that the statewide database is working, the database will flag you, and law enforcement will begin to investigate you for this charge.

If you are being treated at a pain management clinic, make sure that your clinic has all applicable licenses, and is compliant with local ordinances. Take it upon yourself to educate yourself. Take responsibility for receiving quality health care. And if you are a legitimate pain patient with a vilid pain issue, Come see us at the Gorrell Institute for pain management before the panel for new patients is closed. We can help!