Testy Letter, Lack of Protocol Leads to Unprofessional Conduct Charge for Physician

Dec. 27--The Washington State Department of Health recently released a set of lists noting at least 48 health care professionals from around the state who have been disciplined for various infractions.

Regionally, actions were taken in regard to health care workers in Thurston, Cowlitz, Pierce and Clark counties.

Pierce County had the most actions logged in the most recent round of reports as well as the biggest headline grabber.

Osteopathic physician Scott Havsy was charged with unprofessional conduct by the Osteopathic Board after he allegedly failed to follow pain management standards and wrote a "professionally insulting, demeaning, threatening and disparaging" letter to a medical examiner. Havsy also allegedly failed to provide adequate records or an explanation to investigators.

Also in Pierce County, the Nursing Commission charged registered nurse Kenya Elaine Joseph with unprofessional conduct after Joseph failed to abide by terms of probation.

Additionally, the Dental Commission ended probation for dentist Parvin Abedi, the Pharmacy Commission ended conditions on the pharmacy technician credential of Scott Stockmyer, and the Veterinary Board ended conditions on the veterinary medication clerk credential of Stacie A. Philips.

There were two actions taken in Thurston County.

First, Leandra Dishan Calhoun was granted a conditional agency-affiliated counselor credential by the secretary of health. The conditional terms place Calhoun on probation, direct her to complete continuing education in law and ethics and requires her to undergo an evaluation for substance abuse monitoring. Calhoun was convicted of first-degree robbery in 2011.

The Dental Commission charged dentist Thomas F. Tilson with unprofessional conduct. The charge alleges that after Tilson was arrested on a simple assault charge he abruptly closed his practice without notifying his patients. During an investigation Department of Health sleuths allegedly recovered financial records, including confidential patient information, from a garbage receptacle outside of Tilson's office.

In Cowlitz County, the Nursing Commission reinstated the registered nurse credential of Shelly A. Miller, and mandated that she continue participating in a substance abuse monitoring program. Miller's license was suspended earlier this year after she failed to comply with a substance abuse monitoring program.

Lastly, there were three actions taken by health care officials in Clark County.

The secretary of health ended probation for chemical dependency professional trainee Aaron John Larson, the secretary of health ended conditions on the credential of massage practitioner Karol N. Rich, and the Nursing Commission ended probation for registered nurse Amber R. Jordan.

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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