ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Patients are trying to find out why a doctor's office in Orange County suddenly closed its doors.
Patients said they can't get their medical records, or even their prescriptions filled.
Dr. Ronald Mallonee was not in at the Waterford Park office building in Suite 219.
And long-time patient Linda Bilyeu knew something was wrong when a pharmacist refused to refill her prescription.
"She said there's a problem because his office closed. I said that's impossible," said Bilyeu.
But a notice on the office door cites a "sudden leave of absence."
One patient had a message of their own for the doctor and they printed it right on the sign, saying: "You could have called patients with standing appointments."
Bilyeu is upset because her family's entire medical history is inside that office and they can't get to those important files.
"(It's) extremely important because my husband has cancer and we need his medical records. He goes back 15 years with Dr. Mallonee, and I go back 18 years," she said.
A spokesman for the Florida Department of Health told WFTV they ordered an emergency suspension of the doctor's license. The administrative complaint states the doctor was unable to practice medicine due to his dependence on alcohol.
Bilyeu said she still stands behind the physician who cared for her family for so many years, but she needs her medical records.
"It's just one key. One turn of a knob, and there are the records. And I'm worried they'll just get tossed out one day," she said.
WFTV asked state health officials how the doctor's patients can retrieve their medical records and get their prescriptions filled.
So far, we haven't heard back.
WFTV
