Hospital revokes surgeon's privileges
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
March 2, 2016
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/PS-030216_PS_Jefferson_Privileges
A local orthopedic surgeon, who is facing criminal charges for allegedly making threatening comments in an operating room at Baptist Health Paducah, is not being allowed to treat patients at the hospital.
According to a hospital memo sent Tuesday to Baptist Health faculty and staff, Dr. Ted Jefferson's surgical privileges have been revoked following a recommendation from the facility's Medical Executive Committee.
"In the weeks that have passed since Dr. Jefferson threatened to bring an assault rifle into our hospital, he has attempted to divert attention away from what he did," the memo said. "We maintain that there is no excuse for such behavior, and we have zero tolerance for anyone making intimidating threats in our hospital."
Jefferson has 30 days to appeal the medical committee's decision.
The memo also states that the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure is investigating Jefferson's actions.
Jefferson is charged with third-degree terroristic threatening and second-degree disorderly conduct after he allegedly had what a nurse described as a "meltdown" in a hospital operating room on Jan. 26. He was arrested and charged the following day.
The doctor has retained surgical privileges at the hospital for more than five years and leases office space on the facility's campus.
Without surgical privileges, Jefferson can no longer admit, treat or operate on patients at Baptist Health.
Since the incident, Jefferson has maintained he made the comments out of frustration that his surgical instruments were dirty. Jefferson alleged there were bone fragments and bone cement stuck to the utensils he was preparing to use for a total knee replacement.
Baptist Health has denied the allegation, stating the Kentucky Office of the Inspector General investigated Jefferson's complaint and its preliminary report "found the complaint to be unsubstantiated."
Jefferson's criminal case is in McCracken District Court. His next appearance is scheduled for March 8. Jefferson's attorney, Bard Brian, has indicated the case could be settled on that day.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
According to a hospital memo sent Tuesday to Baptist Health faculty and staff, Dr. Ted Jefferson's surgical privileges have been revoked following a recommendation from the facility's Medical Executive Committee.
"In the weeks that have passed since Dr. Jefferson threatened to bring an assault rifle into our hospital, he has attempted to divert attention away from what he did," the memo said. "We maintain that there is no excuse for such behavior, and we have zero tolerance for anyone making intimidating threats in our hospital."
Jefferson has 30 days to appeal the medical committee's decision.
The memo also states that the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure is investigating Jefferson's actions.
Jefferson is charged with third-degree terroristic threatening and second-degree disorderly conduct after he allegedly had what a nurse described as a "meltdown" in a hospital operating room on Jan. 26. He was arrested and charged the following day.
The doctor has retained surgical privileges at the hospital for more than five years and leases office space on the facility's campus.
Without surgical privileges, Jefferson can no longer admit, treat or operate on patients at Baptist Health.
Since the incident, Jefferson has maintained he made the comments out of frustration that his surgical instruments were dirty. Jefferson alleged there were bone fragments and bone cement stuck to the utensils he was preparing to use for a total knee replacement.
Baptist Health has denied the allegation, stating the Kentucky Office of the Inspector General investigated Jefferson's complaint and its preliminary report "found the complaint to be unsubstantiated."
Jefferson's criminal case is in McCracken District Court. His next appearance is scheduled for March 8. Jefferson's attorney, Bard Brian, has indicated the case could be settled on that day.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
