General surgeon at BJC Hospital resigns, closes office
The general surgeon at BJC Hospital in Commerce announced his resignation and closed his office Monday.
The following day, four former patients filed suit against him and BJC Medical Center over alleged malpractice.
Dr. Keith Ash’s resignation leaves the medical center without one of its primary profit centers and has it scrambling to replace the services he’s provided for four years.
“He announced it Monday. It was a personal decision, and I’m sure it wasn’t an easy decision for him,” said Jim Yarborough, CEO of the medical center.
Ash did not return a telephone call seeking comment.
Yarborough indicated that Ash wants to relocate within a group rather than serving as a sole practitioner.
“He’s performed thousands of procedures and operated here 24/7,” Yarborough noted.
Ash joined the hospital in March 2004, and his surgical trade has repeatedly been credited with helping the hospital turn its financial situation into the black. His departure has the hospital scrambling to find replacements.
“We’re doing everything we can to find alternative services,” Yarborough said.
They include a gastroenterologist in the specialty clinic, a radiologist and other doctors who can perform some of the procedures that Ash handled.
“We are also trying to find a general surgeon who would be willing to come in two or three days a week in a clinical setting and do surgeries at the hospital,” Yarborough said. “We would like to find a general surgeon who would be associated with other general surgeons in our region, so they can take some time off.”
Yarborough had nothing but praise for Ash.
“During his four-plus years as an active member of our medical staff, Dr. Ash has performed thousands of surgical procedures and has gained the confidence and respect of many patients, families, BJCMC hospital staff, BJCMC medical staff and the overall community in general,” Yarborough wrote in an e-mail to hospital staff. “Dr. Ash has been providing 24-hour, seven-day-a-week coverage during his tenure as our ‘solo’ surgeon with minimal time off and has expressed an interest in joining a surgical group by relocating his practice into a larger practice and community.
“Please join me in expressing our appreciation to Dr. Ash and wishing the best to him and his family in their future endeavors.”
Malpractice Alleged
The suit was filed Tuesday, June 10, in the Superior Court of Jackson County on behalf of Stephanie Floyd, Karen Hunter, Billy Ray Hawkes and Debra Kraft.
It alleges that Ash performed unnecessary surgery, botched two Nissen fundoplication surgeries and operated on the wrong part of one patient. The suit alleges that BJC Medical Center is liable for providing credentials allowing Ash to perform surgery for which he had insufficient training, and it seeks triple damages from Ash under the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, claiming that Ash and his Commerce Surgical Associates “acquired revenue through a pattern of racketeering activity.” The suit further alleges that “BJC was an accomplice and active participant” in the racketeering.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys are J. Vincent Cook and R. Christopher Irwin III of Cook, Noell, Tolley, Bates & Michael, Athens.
Yarborough declined to comment on the suit, which he said was served last Tuesday or Wednesday to the medical center’s attorney.
