By Dr. Phillip HertzmanAfter practicing medicine for more than 39 years at Los Alamos Medical Center, I will be closing the Los Alamos office of Los Alamos Family Practice and Vein Care of New Mexico Nov. 29.
I received an impersonal letter from a representative of ‘PHC-Los Alamos Inc d/b/a Los Alamos Medical Center” in Brentwood, Tenn., threatening eviction from my current office 30 days after they purchase the property from Los Alamos National Bank. As of late October Los Alamos Medical Center was not the owner of this property.
It is astonishing that after having been a member of the Los Alamos Medical Center medical staff since 1977, no member of the hospital administration at Los Alamos Medical Center has had the decency nor courtesy to come directly to me to discuss their plans to evict me or to consider reasonable alternative options for my practice. The actual date of purchase and eviction is still not clear, but it is not realistic for me to continue a medical practice with the uncertainty related to not knowing when I will be forced to vacate, nor having been offered any alternatives.
The medical community in Los Alamos has always enjoyed an excellent reputation. A hospital, however is only as good as its medical providers. Over the years the hospital has discarded and / or alienated numerous fine physicians. I don’t foresee that the corporation in Tennessee or LAMC, which boldly advertises itself as a compassionate organization will change its behavior towards private physicians, especially those who may not be directly financially boosting the hospital’s bottom-line. Fortunately for the residents of Los Alamos many excellent physicians remain.
Although I am saddened and it is with great regret that I am compelled to close my office in Los Alamos, I will continue to practice medicine and to collaborate with my medical colleagues in Los Alamos. I will be available in Santa Fe at 460 St. Michael’s Drive; Office Court; Suite 806. Our telephone 505.662.2900 will remain the same.
I hope to continue to see many of my long-time patients at my Santa Fe office however I completely understand if for reasons of convenience patients choose to seek alternate care in Los Alamos. My staff will be available to transfer medical records as necessary. Up-to-date information regarding my practice we’ll eventually be available at www.veinsnm.com.
