Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BOARD OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE
Respondent: ALAN SALTZMAN, D.O.
Judges: LARRY J. SARTIN
Agency: Department of Health
Locations: Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Filed: Sep. 28, 2004
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, December 28, 2004.
Latest Update: Dec. 23, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA ot
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Se ee one Pa
O4 SEP 28 AMT: S2
SIV ISHN
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AaINES yd
PETITIONER, ™_™
v. CASE NO. 2002-18529
ALAN SALTZMAN, D.O., 7 1 pene y MPL
RESPONDENT. ~
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ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, the Department of Health, by and through undersigned
counsel, files this Administrative Complaint before the Board of
Osteopathic Medicine against Respondent, Alan Saltzman, D.O., and in
support thereof states:
1. Petitioner is the state department charged with regulating
the practice of osteopathic medicine pursuant to Section 20.43, Florida
Statutes; Chapter 456, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 459, Florida
Statutes.
2, Respondent is, and has been at all times material hereto, a
licensed osteopathic physician in the State of Florida, having been
issued license number OS 4113.
3. Respondent's last known address is 5345 NW 125" Avenue,
Coral Springs, Florida 33076.
4. OnJune 11, 2002, Patient T.B., an Inspector for the Missouri
Board of Pharmacy, completed a questionnaire through an Internet site
known as easymedscripts.com (“Internet site”).
5. On June 11, 2002, Patient T.B. ordered five (5) 100 mg
tablets of Viagra. Viagra is a legend drug pursuant to state and federal
law and it is used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
6. Onor about June 11, 2002, Respondent approved the order
of Viagra that was placed by Patient T.B.
7. Onor about June 11, 2002, Respondent issued. an electronic
prescription for Viagra.
8. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent's
prescription for Viagra was not reduced to writing and was kept in an
electronic format stored on computer(s).
9. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent did not
conduct a physical examination of Patient T.B.
40. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent did not
take the vital signs of Patient T.B.
11. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent did not
obtain a complete history of Patient T.B. ,
12, At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent did not
adequately assess Patient T.B.’s complaints and symptoms.
13. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent did not
identify and pursue the appropriate treatment plan for the condition of
Patient T.B.
14. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent did not
make a diagnosis of Patient T.B.
15. Atall times material to this Complaint, there was no dialogue
between Respondent and Patient T.B.
16. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent did not
discuss with Patient T.B. other available options for erectile dysfunction,
did not inform Patient T.B. of the potential side effects of Viagra and did
not inform Patient T.B. of the risks and benefits of taking Viagra.
17. The prescription for Viagra was filled and dispensed by
Clinical Solutions of South Florida (“Clinical Solutions”), 21011 Johnson
Suite 109, Pembroke Pines, FL 33029.
18. On or about July 2, 2002, Patient T.B. received a vial from
Clinical Solutions containing the tablets of Viagra. The label on the vial
identified Respondent as the prescribing physician.
COUNT I - STANDARD OF CARE
19, Petitioner re-alleges and incorporates paragraphs one (1)
through eighteen (18) as if fully set forth herein.
20. Rule 64B15-14.008, Florida Administrative Code, states, in
pertinent part:
(1) Prescribing medications based solely on an electronic
medical questionnaire constitutes the failure to practice
osteopathic medicine with that level of care, skill, and treatment
which is recognized by reasonably prudent osteopathic physicians
as being acceptable under similar conditions and circumstances, as
well as prescribing legend drugs other than in the course of an
osteopathic physician’s professional practice. Such practice
constitutes grounds for disciplinary action pursuant to Sections
459.015(1)(x) and (t), F.S.
(2) Osteopathic physicians shall not provide treatment
recommendations, including issuing a prescription, via electronic
or other means unless the following elements have been met:
(a) A documented patient evaluation, including history and
physical examination, adequate to establish the diagnosis for
which any drug is prescribed.
(b) Sufficient dialogue between the osteopathic physician
and the patient regarding treatment options and the risks
and benefits of treatment.
(c) Maintenance of contemporaneous medical records
meeting the requirements of Rule 64B15-15.004, F.A.C.
21. Rule 64B15-15.004, Florida Administrative Code, states, in
pertinent part:
(1) For the purpose of implementing the provisions of
subsection 459.015(1)(0), F.S., osteopathic physicians — shall
maintain written legible records on each patient. Such written
records shall contain, at a minimum, the following information
about the patient:
(a) Patient histories;
(b) Examination results;
(c) Test results;
(d) Records of drugs prescribed, dispensed or
administered;
(e) Reports of consultations, and
(f) Reports of hospitalizations.
22. Pursuant to Section 459.015(1)(x), Florida Statutes (2001),
an osteopathic physician's license is subject to discipline for failure to
practice osteopathic medicine with that level of care, skill, and treatment
which is recognized by a reasonably prudent similar osteopathic
physician as being acceptable under similar conditions and
circumstances.
23. Respondent failed to practice osteopathic medicine with that
level of care, skill, and treatment which is recognized by a reasonably
prudent similar osteopathic physician as being acceptable under similar
circumstances, by doing one or more of the following:
(a) _ by failing to perform a physical examination on Patient
T.B. prior to prescribing Viagra;
(b) by failing to obtain a complete history on Patient T.B.
prior to prescribing Viagra;
(c) by failing to make a diagnosis or treatment plan for
Patient T.B. prior to prescribing Viagra;
(d) by failing to reduce to writing the prescription for
Viagra;
(e) _ by failing to take Patient T.B.’s vital signs;
(f) by failing to adequately assess Patient T.B.'s
complaints and symptoms;
(g) by failing to identify and pursue the appropriate
treatment plan for Patient T.B.’s condition;
(h) by failing to discuss with Patient T.B. other available
options for weight loss and the side effects of Viagra;
(i) by prescribing medication based solely on an electronic
medical questionnaire contrary to the provisions found in
Rules 64B15-14.008 and 64B15-15.004, Florida
Administrative Code.
24. Based on the foregoing, Respondent violated Section
459.015(1)(x), Florida Statutes (2001), by failing to practice osteopathic
medicine with that level of care, skill and treatment which is recognized
by a reasonably prudent similar osteopathic physician as being
acceptable under similar conditions and circumstances.
COUNT II- MEDICAL RECORDS
25. Petitioner re-alleges and incorporates paragraphs one (1)
through eighteen (18) and twenty (20) through twenty-one (21) as if
fully set forth herein.
26. Section 459.015(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2001), provides that
an osteopathic physician’s license is subject to discipline for failure to
keep medical records that justify the course of treatment of the patient,
including, but not limited to, patient histories; examination results; test
results; records of drugs prescribed, dispensed, or administered; and
reports of consultations and hospitalizations.
27. Respondent failed to satisfy the minimum content
requirement of medical records because Respondent failed to
adequately record Patient T.B.’s medical history.
28. Respondent failed to satisfy the minimum content
requirement of medical records because Respondent's records do not
contain any information about examinations or test results done on
Patient T.B.
29. Respondent failed to satisfy the minimum content
requirement of medical records because Respondent's records do not
contain any reports of consultations.
30. Based on the foregoing, Respondent violated Section
459.015(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2001), and Rule 64B15-15.004, Florida
‘Administrative Code, by failing to keep legible, as defined by department
rule in consultation with the board, medical records that identify the
licensed osteopathic physician or the osteopathic physician extender and
supervising osteopathic physician by name and professional title who is
or are responsible for rendering, ordering, supervising, or billing for
each diagnostic or treatment procedure and that justify the course of
treatment of the patient, including, but not limited to, patient histories;
examination results; test results; records of drugs prescribed,
dispensed, or administered; and reports of consultations and
hospitalizations.
COUNT III — INAPPROPRIATE PRESCRIBING
31. Petitioner re-alleges and incorporates paragraphs one (1)
through eighteen (18) and twenty (20) through twenty-one (21) as if
fully set forth herein.
32. Pursuant to Section 459.015(1)(t), Florida Statutes (2001),
an osteopathic physician’s license is subject to discipline for:
prescribing, dispensing, administering, supplying,
selling, giving, mixing, or otherwise preparing a legend
drug, including all controlled substances, other than in
the course of the osteopathic physician's professional
practice.
33, At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent
inappropriately prescribed Viagra to Patient T.B. because Respondent:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
failed to perform a physical examination on Patient
T.B. prior to prescribing Viagra,
failed to obtain a complete history on Patient T.B. prior
to prescribing Viagra;
failed to make a diagnosis or treatment plan for
Patient T.B. prior to prescribing Viagra;
failed to reduce to writing the prescription for Viagra;
failed to take Patient T.B.’s vital signs;
(f) failed to adequately assess Patient 1.B.’s complaints
and symptoms;
(g) failed to identify and pursue the appropriate treatment
plan for Patient T.B.’s condition;
(h) failed to discuss with Patient T.B. other available
options for weight loss and the side effects of Viagra,
(i) prescribed medication based solely on an electronic
medical questionnaire contrary to the provisions found
in Rules 64B15-14.008 and 64B15-15.004, Florida
Administrative Code.
34, Based on the foregoing, Respondent violated Section
458.331(1)(t), Florida Statutes (2001), by inappropriately prescribing
Viagra to Patient T.B. other than in the course of the osteopathic
physician's professional practice.
WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests that the Board of
Osteopathic Medicine enter an order imposing one or more of the
following — penalties: permanent revocation or suspension of
Respondent's _ license, restriction of practice, imposition of an
administrative fine, issuance of a reprimand, placement of the
Respondent on probation, corrective action, refund of fees billed or
collected, remedial education and/or any other relief that the Board
deems appropriate.
SIGNED this aa day of _{ebvoavy , 2004.
John O. Agwunobi, M.D., M.B.A.
Secretary, Department of Health
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crn NioMu. Cotman Florida Bar No. 647871
oate__alaslo4 DOH Prosecution Services Unit
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-65
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3265
850.410-3466
850.414.1991 FAX
Reviewed and approved by: p-_ (initials) olizlos (date)
pcp: Feb.20, Zoe
PCP Members: Hanc + Kaufmon
Alan Saltzman, D.O., DOH Case No, 2002-1 8529
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Alan Saltzman, D.O., DOH Case No. 2002-18529 rip fe Py
04 SEP 28 AM II: 52
BIVISS
NOTICE OF RIGHTS ADMINISTRA.
HEARINGS
Respondent has the right to request a hearing to be
conducted in accordance with Section 120.569 and 120.57,
Florida Statutes, to be represented by counsel or other qualified
representative, to present evidence and argument, to call and
cross-examine witnesses and to have subpoena and subpoena
duces tecum issued on his or her behalf if a hearing is
requested.
NOTICE REGARDING ASSESSMENT OF COSTS
Respondent is placed on notice that Petitioner has
incurred costs related to the investigation and prosecution of
this matter. Pursuant to Section 456.072(4), Florida Statutes,
the Board shall assess costs related to the investigation and
prosecution of a disciplinary matter, which may include
attorney hours and costs, on the Respondent in addition to any
other discipline imposed.
Docket for Case No: 04-003498PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Dec. 28, 2004 |
Order Closing Files. CASE CLOSED.
|
Oct. 19, 2004 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Oct. 19, 2004 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for January 11 through 13, 2005; 9:30 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes, FL).
|
Oct. 19, 2004 |
Order Granting Consolidation. (consolidated cases are: 04-003495PL, 04-003496PL, 04-003497PL, 04-003498PL)
|
Oct. 07, 2004 |
Petitioner`s Motion to Consolidation (of case nos: 04-3495PL, 04-3946PL, 04-3497PL, 04-3498PL) filed via facsimile.
|
Oct. 05, 2004 |
Petitioner`s Response to Initial Order (filed via facsimile).
|
Sep. 29, 2004 |
Notice of Serving Petitioner`s Request for Admission, Requests for Interrogatories and Requests for Production of Documents (filed via facsimile).
|
Sep. 28, 2004 |
Initial Order.
|
Sep. 28, 2004 |
Entry of Appearance filed.
|
Sep. 28, 2004 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Sep. 28, 2004 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Sep. 28, 2004 |
Agency referral filed.
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