TRMC: Doctor must reapply for privileges

Published 11:19 pm Thursday, November 10, 2011

A doctor whose license was recently reinstated will have to reapply for privileges at Troy Regional Medical Center, hospital staff said.

The Alabama Medical Licensure Commission recently lifted the suspension of Dr. Andrew Osborne’s license, opening the way for him to practice anesthesiology again.

Osborne’s license was temporarily suspended after he was convicted in Dothan of felony second-degree domestic violence in an incident involving his wife. At the time of the conviction, Osborne had worked on staff at TRMC for more than a year.

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Osborne’s privileges ended when his license was suspended, said Jennifer Ventress, chief operating officer at the hospital. “It will be left up to the medical staff and the board of directors to determine if those privileges will be reinstated here.”

The Medical Licensure commission of Alabama suspended Osborne’s license in July in the wake of the felony conviction. In that conviction, he was sentenced to four years in prison, which was suspended; a 90-day work release program; 40 hours of community service; and $4,500 in fines and court costs.

Obsorne appealed the suspension in a hearing before the Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners, which reinstated his license earlier this month. According to supporting documents dated Nov. 7, his license was reinstated “based on the evidence indicated that Dr. Osborne is a competent physician and because there was no evidence of any improper conduct by him as a physician.” Osborne must pay a $5,000 fine; undergo a complete professional evaluation by Acumen Assessments; and pay court costs.

An attorney representing Osborne went on record earlier this week saying the doctor sought to return to work at TRMC.

“He has indicated that he is eager to get back to work,” Ventress said, adding that as of Thursday Osborne had not started the official application process.

Ventress said Osborne must reapply “as if he were a brand new physician or a physician who had moved away and is moving back.” The process for obtaining active privileges typically takes at least a month, she said.

“We are following procedures and our bylaws,” she said.