Bourne terminated from Mammoth Hospital
Mammoth Hospital CEO Gary Boyd confirmed on Wednesday, Jan. 18 that Dr. Andrew Bourne’s contract with the hospital had been terminated.
“He can’t fulfill his contract terms because he can’t physically be here,” Boyd explained. “He needs to focus on his legal issues at this time.”
Boyd met with Bourne on Sunday, Jan. 15 to deliver the termination. “Both of us agreed that this was the right thing to do,” Boyd said.
“I wanted to talk with him personally and make sure he heard it from me. I didn’t want him to read about it in the paper,” he added as explanation of why he had not made the announcement to the public any earlier.
To cover the extra work left by Bourne’s absence, the hospital is using a combination of traveling surgeons and part-time surgeons already on staff at Mammoth Hospital.
“Two physicians that are on staff are providing some coverage,” Boyd explained. “Both are second homeowners.”
These two physicians are Dr. Bryan Fandrich from Sacramento and Dr. Marc Sedwitz from San Diego.
Boyd explained the contracting in the following way: “Dr. Bourne was contracted to provide general surgery services 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While he was here he subcontracted with these two individuals [Fandrich and Sedwitz] to assist him since one person cannot work every day of the year, 24 hours a day. We [the hospital] are now contracting with these two directly.”
The traveling surgeons, also known as locum tenens are available at the hospital on a somewhat revolving basis.
“There is one here now until about this time next week,” Boyd said.
Boyd confirmed that the traveling surgeons do cost slightly more than the other doctors at the hospital.
“The locum tenens cost a little more because we have to pay per diem whereas the other doctors receive a general rate,” Boyd said.
A preliminary hearing is set for Bourne and Joe Walker for Thursday, Jan. 19 at the Santa Barbara Superior Court. Santa Barbara Deputy D.A. Mary Barron stated at last week’s hearing that she planned to file additional charges against the two men.
On Wednesday, Jan. 4 members of the Santa Barbara Police Department with the assistance of the Mammoth Lakes Police Department arrested Mammoth residents, Dr. Andrew C. Bourne, 46, and Joseph T. Walker, 48 in Mammoth Lakes.
According to the Santa Barbara Police Department, Walker was arrested and booked for 6 counts of 288.3 PC, illegal communication with a minor to facilitate sexual activity and 1 count of 288 (c)(1) PC, unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Bourne was arrested and booked for 8 counts of 288.3 PC, illegal communication with a minor to facilitate sexual activity.
Both men were released last week on reduced bails of $750,000 each.
