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HelioMetrics Comment: The items relating to drug diversion have been made bold.
Original Story below:
The Washington State Department of Health recently released a set of lists that noted at least 25 health care professionals from around the state who were disciplined in September for various infractions.
Regionally, health care workers were reprimanded in Grays Harbor and Pierce counties.
Looking outside of our region first, a paramedic in Pend Oreille County set off multiple alarms after he allegedly crashed a fire department vehicle while high on drugs that he allegedly stole from his fire station. In September, Joshua Hicks, alternately referred to as Smith in a press release from the Washington State Department of Health, was charged by the Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems Program with reckless driving, third-degree theft and possession of legend drugs.
There were three actions taken in Pierce County.
Physician Justin K. Yoon was charged with unprofessional conduct by the Medical Commission after he pleaded guilty to second-degree promoting prostitution.
Licensed practical nurse Jennifer Kay Schliesman was charged with unprofessional conduct by the Nursing Commission after she allegedly failed to follow a stipulation that required her to report her employment status.
And the secretary of health lifted the suspension of Jessica A. Rich’s health care assistant credential. Rich’s license was originally suspended in 2007 in connection with diverting drugs from her place of employment.
In Grays Harbor County, the Pharmacy Commission charged Holly A. Walker with unprofessional conduct. The charge against the pharmacy technicians came in September after Walker admitted taking controlled substances for which she had no prescription.
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.