Charlotte region doctors prepare to leave Novant Health two months early

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Patients in Huntersville are scrambling as doctors from Novant are leaving earlier than expected.

Patients said they were originally told they had months before their doctors switched over to a new medical group.

On Jan. 29, 41 doctors in the Lake Norman area announced they would be leaving Novant to join Holston Medical Group.

In the announcement, doctors said they would stay in their offices and the transition would happen on May 31.

On Feb. 15, the group said the date has been pushed to March 18, which is two months earlier than expected and the doctors will move into new offices. One of the doctors also dropped out, shortening the list to 40.

Patient Aaron Rivers' wife showed Channel 9 a MyChart message sent from doctors last week about the transition.

"We have to figure out the dynamics of everything. At this point, we had some lee time and now, the lee time is shortened and we got to figure out how that is going to impact us," Rivers said.

On Novant's website, the old date is still listed. There is a number listed on the website for patients to call for questions, but patient Mandy Barrett said she does not have a lot of time to decide whether to stay with Novant or go with her doctor.

"It's going to shake up the system a little bit because I'm used to Novant, used to reaching my stuff online, and it's very easy for me," Barrett said.

Holston Medical Group said if patients want to move with their doctors, they will need to fill out a form online so they can be contacted to schedule appointments.

Holston has not said where the new offices will be located. Doctors said they are joining the new group so they can provide more integrated care.

Novant said it is looking to replace the healthcare providers who are leaving.

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