Albany Doctors Group Asks Patients for Donations

Citing serious financial stress, a private medical practice of six physicians on Solano Avenue, the Albany Medical Group, has issued an appeal to patients for financial donations.

A letter addressed "To Our Patients" – received by a patient Friday – asks for contributions of $200 from individual patients and $300 from familiies.

The letter cites "great stress" now facing small primary care practices. In the case of Albany Medical Group, one expensive change has been the high cost of adopting electronic health records, according to the letter.

It said the request for donations is being made "with considerable reluctance" and that the decision to contribute or not will not affect the care provided to the patient.

"Our ability to exist has come into question," says the letter. It is signed by the six doctors: Nelson Bunin, Janet Ewing, Michael Lewis, Fred Miller, Louise Nurre and Michael Smith.

Patch has requested comment from the medical group, which is located at 1181 Solano Ave. near the Post Office.

Doctors across the country are facing economic challenges. A CNNMoney article published Monday, "Doctors driven to bankruptcy," reports a recent spike in bankruptcies by physicians.

"As many doctors struggle to keep their practices financially sound, some are buckling under money woes and being pushed into bankruptcy," the article says. "It's a trend that's accelerated in recent years, industry experts say, with potentially serious consequences for doctors and patients."

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