Discipline: Theft, Narcotics, Non-Compliance Put Health Care Workers on the Shelf

Jan. 13--The Washington State Department of Health recently released a list that noted at least 25 health care professionals who have been disciplined for various infractions.

Regionally, actions were taken in regard to health care workers in Lewis, Thurston, Cowlitz and Pierce counties in October and November of 2016.

In Thurston County, Erick P. Timblin had his massage practitioner credential suspended for at least five years. That action was taken in October by the secretary of health as a result of an incident where Timblin improperly touched a client.

In Lewis County, Ashley Marie Crawford-Farr had her certified nursing assistant credential suspended by the Nursing Assistant Program. That action was taken in October after Crawford-Farr failed to respond to an inquiry from a Department of Health investigator in regard to a complaint filed against her.

Three actions were taken in Cowlitz County.

In October, Marissa Lynne Williams had her chemical dependency professional trainee credential indefinitely suspended by the Chemical Dependency Program after she failed to follow through with a substance abuse monitoring program.

The Agency-Affiliated Counselor Program indefinitely suspended the agency-affiliated counselor credential of Rebecca Lyn Brown. That action was taken in October after Brown failed to comply with a substance abuse monitoring program.

And in November, home-care aide Patricia Ann Danielson entered into an agreement with the Home Care Aide Program after admitting to illegally buying narcotics.

The agreement suspends Danielson's credential for at least two years.

In November there were two actions taken in Pierce County.

The Chiropractic Commission indefinitely suspended the chiropractic X-ray technician credential of Alyana S. Thompkins based on a 2015 criminal conviction for second degree-theft. Thompkins stole money from the wallet of a person in the office where she worked.

Certified nursing assistant Gladys C. Challeen had her credential indefinitely suspended by the Nursing Assistant Program. That action was taken due to an incident that occurred in a nursing home where Challeen worked where she raised her voice and berated a vulnerable adult who had asked to use a bedpan.

The state Department of Health Services will not allow Challeen to be employed in a position where she is charged with the care, supervision or proximity to vulnerable adults.

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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