title: Voluntary Departure of Family Physicians from their Workplace: A Reflective Outlook.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to highlight and assess the important topic of the voluntary departure of the physician from his/her clinic. We used the topic of the voluntary departure of a family physician from the clinic as an example. The physician's leaving challenges the personal credo regarding the continuity of care, which is a basic concept in Family Medicine, and other professions, too: Psychiatrists are also devoted to long-term doctor-patient care. Leaving a place of work is a significant life event that can be accompanied by stress and even a crisis for the doctor, patients, and staff.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this article, we will present four stories, of four family physicians who voluntarily left their practices, written from a reflective point of view, either before or after the actual departure. The stories will be analyzed in a qualitative way, and the central themes and narratives will be defined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The personal departure stories revealed important personal and systemic themes that emerge from and influence the departure process. Among the themes were: practical and emotional work circumstances; leaving as a grief process; and reactions of patients, staff, and management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Qualitative analysis revealed that the voluntary departure of the family physician has complex personal and systemic implications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of Balint group discussions and written reflections can help the physician better cope with the departure and also help patients and staff deal with the separation process.
authors.affiliation: Soroka University Medical Center, Psychiatric Department, and the Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba, Israel.
authors.forename: Yuval
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shorer
authors.affiliation: Clalit Health Service, Southern District, Beer Sheba, and the Family Medicine Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biderman
authors.affiliation: Soroka University Medical Center, Psychiatric Department, and the Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, BeerSheba, Israel.
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rabin
authors.affiliation: Clalit Health Services, Jerusalem District, Israel.
authors.forename: Aharon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karni
authors.affiliation: Clalit Health Service, Southern District, Beer Sheba, and the Family Medicine Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.
authors.forename: Ayelet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.affiliation: Clalit Health Services, Dan-Petach Tikva District and the Family Medicine Department, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matalon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063545:Personal Narratives as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*