Dr. Bruce L. Regan has been relieved of his duties as superintendent of the Spring Grove Hospital Center.

The action was a response to disciplinary action taken against him last month by the state Board of Physician Quality Assurance for writing improper prescriptions in his private psychiatric practice.

Mike Golden, a spokesman for the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said Regan was transferred today to department headquarters in Baltimore, where he is to do "quality assurance work" for Dr. Harvey Kalin, clinical director of the state Mental Health Administration.

Spring Grove's assistant superintendent, Dr. William Landis, will serve as acting superintendent until a decision is made on a permanent replacement, Golden said. Regan had been superintendent at the Spring Grove psychiatric hospital since 1987.

Regan was placed on three years' probation by the state Board of Physician Quality Assurance.

The board found no problems with Regan's work at Spring Grove. But a review of his private practice found that Regan had prescribed narcotic analgesics, including injectable drugs, "outside the area of his expertise" over a 10-year period ending in 1990.

The Catonsville physician's actions were "clearly outside the accepted standard of care," the board concluded.

He was ordered to undergo psychiatric therapy and evaluation during the probation.