Discipline: Roundup of Punishments for Health Care Professional Includes Findings in Lewis, Grays Harbor, Pierce and Clark Counties

Dec. 30--The Washington State Department of Health recently released a set of lists that note at least 50 health care professionals who have been disciplined for various infractions.

Regionally, actions were taken in regard to health care workers in Lewis, Grays Harbor, Pierce and Clark counties.

There were two actions taken in Clark County.

The secretary of health indefinitely suspended the credential of agency-affiliated counselor Eric Nolan Johnson after Johnson took a client to a nude beach. While at the nude beach, Johnson was naked in front of the client, made explicit sexual comments and inappropriately touched the client.

Registered nursing assistant Emilie Sue Anne Miller had her credential suspended and was charged with unprofessional conduct by the Nursing Assistant Program after it was discovered that she neglected a vulnerable adult. As a result, the state ruled Miller is not allowed to be employed as a caregiver, or allowed to have unsupervised access to vulnerable adults.

In Lewis County, the Nursing Commission suspended the registered nurse credential of Loraine B. Smith for at least three years after it was discovered that she worked as a nurse while her license was suspended.

There were two actions taken against health care professionals in Grays Harbor County.

Counselor Laurie L. Hahn had her credential suspended by the Counselor Program after she admitted to both selling cannabis to, and smoking cannabis with a client.

The Pharmacy Commission suspended the pharmacy technician credential of Holly A. Walker for at least one year after she admitted to using controlled substances for which she did not have a prescription.

There were five actions levied in Pierce County.

Nancy L. Matthews had her registered nursing assistant credential indefinitely suspended by the secretary of health after she failed to comply with requirements regarding a mental examination. An appeal to reactivate her credential was also denied.

The secretary of health also indefinitely suspended the certified nursing assistant credential of Matthew L. Langford after the Department of Social and Health Services determined he had financially exploited a vulnerable adult. As a result Langford is barred from being employed as a caregiver or having unsupervised access to vulnerable adults.

Michael Shane Marshall, a chemical dependency professional trainee, was also disciplined by the secretary of health. Marshall's training credential was indefinitely suspended after he admitted using methamphetamine and alcohol.

Jessica J. Pampalos had her licensed practical nurse credential indefinitely suspended by the Nursing Commission after she failed to comply with a substance abuse monitoring contract.

And, lastly, the Nursing Commission indefinitely suspended the licensed practical nurse credential of Jennifer Kay Schliesman after she failed to comply with a stipulation that required her to report her employment status.

The Health Systems Quality Assurance Division works with boards, commissions and advisory committees in order to set licensing standards for more than 80 health care professions, ranging from medical doctors to veterinarians.

Information about health care providers is available on the DOH website at doh.wa.gov. Visitors to the webpage should click on the "How Do I" section for more information. The site includes detailed information about the license status of health care workers, including the expiration and renewal date of their credential, disciplinary actions and copies of legal documents issued after July 1998. The information is also available by calling 360-236-4700.

Health care consumers who think their provider has acted unprofessionally are encouraged to report their complaints.

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