852 IAC 1-12-5 Discontinuation of practice

Sec. 5. (a) An optometrist, upon their retirement, discontinuation of the practice of optometry, or leaving or moving from a community, shall notify all of their active patients in writing, by electronic media, or by publication once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the community, that they intend to discontinue their practice of optometry in the community, and encourage their patients to seek the services of another licensed practitioner. The optometrist discontinuing their practice shall make reasonable arrangements with their active patients for the transfer of the patients' records, or copies of the records, to the succeeding practitioner or an optometric association approved by the board. (b) Nothing provided in this section shall preclude, prohibit, or prevent an optometrist from selling, conveying, or transferring for valuable consideration the optometrist's patient records to another licensed practitioner who is assuming the optometrist's practice, provided that written notice is given to patients as provided in this section.