The Washington State Department of Health recently released a list of at least 40 health care professionals from around the state who were disciplined in June and July for various infractions.
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.
Regionally, health care workers were reprimanded in Lewis, Thurston, Grays Harbor and Pierce counties.
In Lewis County, there were two actions taken.
The Nursing Assistant Program suspended the registered nursing credential of Jennifer K. Thayer for at least five years after Thayer admitted to diverting roughly 1,500 narcotic pills from a resident of an adult family home for her own personal use. Earlier this year, Thayer was charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Unlicensed massage practitioner Tiffany Kristina Smith, who also goes by Tiffany Evans and Tiffany Evans Smith, entered into an agreement with the Unlicensed Practice Program that requires her to cease and desist practicing massage without a license and to pay a $1,000 fine.
In Thurston County, Vanessa R. Youmans had her certified nursing assistant credential suspended by the secretary of health for at least three years. In 2015, Youman received a continuance on charges of second-degree theft and first-degree trafficking in stolen property after she stole a patient’s ring and pawned it.
In Grays Harbor County, the Counselor Program charged agency-affiliated counselor Laurie L. Hahn with unprofessional conduct. Hahn first denied, and then admitted to, selling and smoking marijuana with a client.
Lastly, there were three actions taken against health care providers in Pierce County.
Massage practitioner Sheldon G. Morton was charged with unprofessional conduct after Morton allegedly failed to provided adequate proof of having completed required continuing education.
The Nursing Assistant Program suspended the registered nursing assistant credential of Jamie M. Casteel for at least 10 years. Earlier this year Casteel was convicted of second-degree theft in connection with financially exploiting four vulnerable adult patients.
The Chemical Dependency Professional Program indefinitely suspended the professional trainee credential of Sagan Brailynn Cheaney after Cheaney failed to provide required employer reports or unemployment declarations.
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.
