Thomas Elgin, MD, an emergency medicine physician at Orange Coast Memorial Hospital in Fountain Valley, Calif., has received public reprimand by the Medical Board of California for negligent record keeping, according to official documentation.
In 2009, Barbara Johnston, executive director of the Medical Board of California, filed a complaint against Dr. Elgin for "negligent acts" he committed in 2006. According to official documents, a patient with pain in both arms and jaw tightness was presented to Orange Coast Memorial's emergency room.
Dr. Elgin admitted he documented a patient's EKG was normal when, in fact, it was abnormal. The patient was discharged but died later that day. Dr. Elgin stated he had incorrectly documented the EKG results because the patient refused to be admitted to the hospital for further examination, though that refusal was not documented in the patient's medical record.
In addition to the public reprimand, Dr. Elgin must take a medical record keeping course.
Read the medical board's documentation on Dr. Elgin's public reprimand (pdf).
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In 2009, Barbara Johnston, executive director of the Medical Board of California, filed a complaint against Dr. Elgin for "negligent acts" he committed in 2006. According to official documents, a patient with pain in both arms and jaw tightness was presented to Orange Coast Memorial's emergency room.
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Dr. Elgin admitted he documented a patient's EKG was normal when, in fact, it was abnormal. The patient was discharged but died later that day. Dr. Elgin stated he had incorrectly documented the EKG results because the patient refused to be admitted to the hospital for further examination, though that refusal was not documented in the patient's medical record.
In addition to the public reprimand, Dr. Elgin must take a medical record keeping course.
Read the medical board's documentation on Dr. Elgin's public reprimand (pdf).
Related Articles on Physician Violations:
Physician's Suspension for Patient Safety Errors Overturned by Oklahoma's Memorial Hospital Board Members
Connecticut Medical Examining Board Under Fire for Leniency on Medical Errors
New York Physician Put on Probation for Violating Infection Control Standards