Know-How Exchange : Advertising/PR

If a patient from the old office chooses to use you as his/her dentist, that's they're choice. If you actively call patients to lure them away from your former practice, that's soliciting.

From doctors to dentists to personal trainers, there are many patients and clients who like the person with whom they work and will follow them anywhere. Welcome those people with open arms.

Good luck!

It sounds like you're talking about a contractual agreement with the group you're leaving. So you're asking us what might be a legal question. If it were me, I'd simply write a letter to all your patients, telling them you're leaving (or you've left), talking about what you're doing now, and wishing them good gums and bright smiles. Those who want to stay with you will find their way without your soliciting.

I don't know...I would consider a mailing to all of the prior patients to be a solicitation. Tread carefully. You are the only one who knows the conditions under which you left the prior practice and the likelihood of litigation coming from your prior associates. If all is cool then the letter suggestion above is a good one.

When a patient calls the old practice they probably say Dr. X is no longer here, Dr. Y has joined us and I'm sure you will like him/her. At this point your old patients have no idea where you have gone. Building awareness of your new practice is as good as a solicitation. I believe the patient who thought you only wanted new patients will be unusual.

Does your local paper have a "Professionals on the move" page? Maybe a newspaper insert by zip code. Perhaps through the Chamber of Commerce? I suppose the strategies that work in a city of 8,000 are different than those that would be effective in a city of 1mm. As long as your old patients know where you are they will likely follow (assuming you are a good dentist!)