Boyles brings experience, past TMB sanctions
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Newsboy photo/Jimmy Galvan DR. RICK BOYLES has already started seeing patients through Dr. Joe Dickerson's office in Jasper. Boyles is the newest doctor added by Dickerson Memorial Hospital in an effort to improve their position in the community.

A key player in a planned resurgence at Dickerson Memorial Hospital brings to Jasper an impressive medical background along with some medical sanctions baggage from the Texas Medical Board.

"We're looking for Dr. Boyles to help us," said DMH Administrator John Tatum.

Boyles has signed a multi-year contract with the DMH to join Dr. Joe Dickerson's practice at the Jasper Medical Clinic.

"Rick brings a wealth of talent from a physician's standpoint," Tatum said. "This will be a great help to us."

Boyles also brings past medical sanctions from the state's medical governing board as well.

Boyles was open in discussing his issues with TMB "but those issues have been resolved."

"I have full support of the medical board and I am back in practice," Boyles said.

According to Boyles, the TMB attempts to help small rural communities by placing primary care doctors in "community service of a help to smaller areas in a group or institutional setting."

TMB spokesperson Jill Wiggins said the board can require a rural location on certain cases "but that was not the case with this doctor."

Boyles' problems with the TMB started in December of 1995 when he entered an agreed order to restrict his license for five years due to intemperate use of alcohol or drugs.

In January of 1999, the order was terminated and Boyles' license was listed and free and clear of any restrictions.

But in September of 2004, Boyles' license was temporarily suspended "without notice due to evidence that the physician's continuation in the practice of medicine would constitute a continuing threat to public welfare," according to TMB website on Boyles' license. This action was based on intemperate use of drugs.

In April of 2005, Boyles entered in an agreed order to suspend his license for a minimum of 18 months "until he demonstrates to the board he is physically, mentally and otherwise competent to safely practice medicine, requiring that he abstain from the consumption of drugs and alcohol and undergo drug and alcohol testing," according to the TMB website.

"The action was based on allegations that Dr. Boyles abused cocaine and was arrested for tampering/fabrication of evidence and that he failed to report to the board his arrests for DWI and for evading arrest with a motor vehicle," stated the TMB report.

In August of 2006, TMB and Boyles entered into an agreed order to terminate his suspension, placing him on probation for 10 years and requiring he abstain from consuming prohibited substances including alcohol and drugs not prescribed to him; participate in the board's program for testing for drugs and alcohol; not reapply for controlled substances registration certificates without prior authorization from the board; prohibit him from supervising a physician assistant or advanced nurse practitioner and requiring that he pass the special purpose examination within one year.

"He has been completely cleared by the board of medical examiners," said Larry Wedekind, owner of DMH. "He did have an issue in the distant past. He is a superior physician. He has a past but it has nothing to do with the practice of medicine."

"The issue he had with the medical board was not anything clinically connected," Tatum said. "It had nothing to do with his practice ability or his ability to function as a physician. His issues were due to a personal life problem."

Boyles said one aspect that attracted him to DMH was the commitment the hospital shows to its employees and patients.

"They have a sense of personal duty to the patients and that is something I have always had in my practice," Boyles said.

Boyles said he is hoping to get back to "taking care of patients" by relocating to Jasper.

"I enjoy the challenge of the full range of patients," Boyles said. "I am willing to take everything that I have learned and put it to good use here. I want to be a part of this community and its health care service. This is Dr. Joe's clinic - I just want to be a part of it."