Designated Physicians for OSRs: What is it and how do you qualify?

If you are a Florida physician who performs surgery in an office setting, or if you own such a facility, you may have encountered the Florida Office Surgery Registration (OSR) program. OSRs are regulated by Chapter 458 of the Florida Statutes, which you can read more about HERE.

All OSRs are required to have a designated physician assigned to that office. A designated physician, or DP, is responsible for the office’s compliance with health and safety requirements. If the office fails to comply with legal health and safety requirements, the Department of Health may discipline the designated physician for that non-compliance.

            Who is qualified to be a designated physician? Section 458.328, Florida Statutes outlines the legal standard for DPs:

A designated physician must have a full, active, and unencumbered license under this chapter or chapter 459 and shall practice at the office for which he or she has assumed responsibility.

            Essentially, any allopathic and osteopathic physician with a full, unrestricted license may qualify to be a designated physician. Your license cannot be under “obligations,” meaning your license cannot have pending discipline or probation. Finally, you must practice at the registered office where you are the designated physician. If you are changing the designated physician for your OSR, or if you are ceasing your practice at an OSR, you must notify the Department of Health in writing within 10 days.

            It is very important that you comply with these rules and requirements regarding designated physicians, or the OSR operations may be suspended by the Department of Health. Sudden suspension can be devastating to any health care provider. That is why it’s important to contact an experienced health care attorney if you have questions regarding your OSR and compliance.