@article {Merenstein461, author = {Beth Merenstein and Joel Merenstein}, title = {Patient Reflections: Saying Good-Bye to a Retiring Family Doctor}, volume = {21}, number = {5}, pages = {461--465}, year = {2008}, doi = {10.3122/jabfm.2008.05.070186}, publisher = {The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine}, abstract = {Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the doctor{\textendash}patient relationship as expressed in written comments to a retiring family physician.Methods:All 200 of the written notes and e-mails to a single family physician retiring after 42 years in practice were examined using content analysis for general themes and meaning. No phone or personal verbal responses were included.Results: Seven themes emerged with regards to what patients appreciated in their family physician relationship. These included {\textquotedblleft}being there,{\textquotedblright} caring, medical expertise, personal characteristics, multiple roles/anything goes, family, and continuity.Conclusion: Analyzing comments from actual patients at the end of a long-term relationship with an individual physician confirms beliefs of what patients consider important based on theoretical models, surveys, and interviews.}, issn = {1557-2625}, URL = {https://www.jabfm.org/content/21/5/461}, eprint = {https://www.jabfm.org/content/21/5/461.full.pdf}, journal = {The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine} }