Florida Department of Health Filed Emergency Suspension Orders on the Registration of Seven Pain Management Clinics
TALLAHASSEE— State Surgeon General Ana M. Viamonte Ros, M.D., M.P.H., took a strong step in addressing the inappropriate and excessive prescribing of controlled substances by issuing seven Emergency Suspension Orders (ESOs) against registered pain management clinics on Friday May 5, 2010 and Monday May 7, 2010. Recent changes in the Florida Statutes allowing for the regulation of pain management clinics, made this action possible for Dr. Viamonte Ros.
Mercy Wellness and Recovery Center was operating out of a facility located at 2001 NE 48th Street, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33308. On April 30, 2010 the Florida Department of Health (DOH), alongside the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and the Fort Lauderdale Building Department, conducted an inspection and found that the facility had been in operation without a “designated physician“ or medical director responsible for the pain management clinic’s safe operation since April 2, 2010. This is a violation of Section 458.309(4), Florida Statutes (2009).
Additionally, the April 30th inspection found that the facility had employed an unlicensed pharmacist to manage and fill controlled substance prescriptions without review and oversight by a licensed pharmacist or physician. Moreover, the controlled substances were not secured from tampering, theft or other access by patients or staff as they were kept in an open safe in an unsecured room and were legally adulterated when they left the possession of the previous designated physician. This constitutes possession of contraband prescription drugs under Section 400.003(12), Florida Statutes (2009) and is also a violation of Section 456.072(1)(j), Florida Statutes (2009) for employing an unlicensed pharmacist.
Pompano Pain Management, A Pain Relief Prescription Center and Premier Neurological Treatment Centers were operating out of a facility located at 605 E. Atlantic Boulevard, Pompano Beach FL 33063. The ESOs arise out of the pain management clinic failing to maintain a “designated physician” or medical director which practices at its facility. This is a violation of Section 458.309(4), Florida Statutes (2009). The previous medical director, Dr. Steven Barry Brown had his license to practice medicine suspended on May 5, 2010 for, in part, trafficking in controlled substances and inappropriately and excessively prescribing controlled substances to an individual in exchange for receiving approximately half of the prescribed controlled substances for Brown’s personal use. This suspension made Brown ineligible to serve as the clinic’s medical director or “designated physician.”
Broward Chronic Pain and Recovery Center was operating out of a facility located at 5601 North Powerline Road, Suite 303, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33309. The ESO arises out of the pain management clinic failing to maintain a “designated physician” or medical director which practices at its facility. This is a violation of Section 458.309(4), Florida Statutes (2009). The previous “designated physician”, Dr. Alfred Boyce had his license to practice medicine suspended on April 28, 2010 for, in part, inappropriately and excessively prescribing controlled substances to six patients that were not in the best interest of the patients or in the course of his professional practice. This suspension made Boyce ineligible to serve as the clinic’s medical director or “designated physician.”
Snyder Family Medicine was operating out of a facility located at 1042 Belcher Road, Largo FL 33771. The ESO arises out of the pain management clinic failing to maintain a “designated physician” or medical director which practices at its facility. This is a violation of Section 458.309(4), Florida Statutes (2009). The previous “designated physician,” Dr. Michelle Lee Snyder had her license to practice medicine suspended on April 09, 2010 for, in part, inappropriately and excessively prescribing controlled substances to five patients that were not in the best interest of the patients or in the course of her professional practice. This suspension made Snyder ineligible to serve as the clinic’s medical director or “designated physician.”
Lauderhill Medical Clinic was operating out of a facility located at 2762 W. Oakland Park Boulevard, Oakland Park FL 33311. The ESO arises out of the pain management clinic failing to maintain a “designated physician” or medical director which practices at its facility. This is a violation of Section 458.309(4), Florida Statues (2009). The previous “designated physician”, Dr. Michael Shook had his license to practice medicine suspended on February 10, 2010 for, in part, inappropriately and excessively prescribing controlled substances to three patients that were not in the best interest of the patients or in the course of his professional practice. This suspension made Boyce ineligible to serve as the clinic’s medical director or “designated physician.”
A proceeding seeking formal discipline of the registrations of each of the previously named entities to practice as a pain management clinic will be promptly instituted and acted upon in compliance with Sections 120.569 and 120.60(6), Florida Statutes (2009).
Consumers are encouraged to contact DOH with any questions about the license status of any of the previously named entities if the clinic reopens for business. Any further operation or advertisement by the facility as a pain management clinic are health care crimes and will be referred to local law enforcement for prompt prosecution. (F.S. 456.066) Additionally, consumers can visit DOH’s Web site www.flhealthsource.com where they can conveniently view the license information on any health care practitioner or facility that is regulated by DOH. Complaints may be filed anonymously by completing and mailing the complaint form on the DOH Web site or calling 1-877-HALT-ULA to have a form mailed to you.
The mission of DOH and MQA is to promote, protect and improve the health of all people in Florida. Working in conjunction with 22 boards and six councils, MQA regulates eight types of facilities and 200-plus license types in more than 40 healthcare professions. MQA evaluates the credentials of all applicants for licensure, issues licenses, analyzes and investigates complaints, inspects facilities, assists in prosecuting practice act violations, combats unlicensed activity and provides credential and discipline history about licensees to the public.
Visit http://www.flhealthsource.com for additional information about MQA.
Contact: Office of Communications
(850) 245-4111
