Englewood doctor who abruptly closed office explains why

It's a follow up to a story we first told you about in an exclusive report on FOX 31 Tuesday. We showed you how many patients, for two weeks now, have been showing up for appointments only to find out Dr. Janette Javier's had office closed without notice.

Many patients couldn't get any information, about their medical records or their prescriptions.


The doctor now tells me she tried her best to avoid the crisis that had just gotten beyond her control. Dr. Javier says when she was forced to shut down her office it took even her by surprise.

"It's regrettable that this all came to pass," Dr. Javier told me in an interview, "And I know that it's affected a lot of my patients and I hope that we can move forward from this and make this better."

She says her practice of about 14 hundred patients is a victim of the growing health care crisis. She could no longer afford rent in this medical building near Swedish Hospital, mainly, she says, because most of her patients are on Medicaid. And the reimbursements are slow and not enough to cover her expenses.

"It's a dilemma, because these patients need a place to go too, they need quality care as well," Dr. Javier said.

She says didn't want to turn people away but had to close with no notice.

Her single phone line hasn't been able to keep up with the volume of patients who've been showing up for appointments waiting sometimes for hours, only to reach no one.

Patient Laurie Crawford told me she's been trying for weeks to gain access to her medical records and refill prescriptions.

"I love her and I don't understand," said Crawford of the doctor, "Somebody finally cares and now it seems like she doesn't care anymore. "

"We care very much for our patients," said Dr. Javier, "We are doing our best to serve our patients in this difficult situation. "

She says all the medical records from her office are safely protected on a computer, and is urgently looking for somewhere she can afford while trying to contact as many patients as possible.

"Whatever we can honestly do to keep, to keep our practice going and to service our patients is what we're doing now that's our number one priority," Dr. Javier said.

In the meantime, she asks patients to be patient. She says she's hiring an answering service to help process the backlog of calls and continues to process as many prescriptions and other services she can while making house calls.

She admits mistakes were made and hopes to correct the situation.

As for other doctors who've heard about her situation, she says she appreciates their words of support.