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Washington State Department of Health Announces Disciplinary Actions Against Health Care Providers

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Published on June 18, 2024
Washington State Department of Health Announces Disciplinary Actions Against Health Care ProvidersSource: Google Street View

The Washington State Department of Health has been busy lately, updating the public on the professional conduct and disciplinary actions taken against a variety of health care providers in the state. As a watchdog for over 80 health care professions, the department's Health Systems Quality Assurance Division collaborates with various boards to ensure professionals are keeping up with the standards expected of them.

In Clark County, Allen Wendell Holden has had his massage therapist license reinstated this May, according to the Washington State Department of Health. Though now shifted back onto Holden's shoulders, the license will be held on probation for two years, during which time he must submit to patient record audits—a small price to pay for the privilege of working in such a trusted profession.

Up north in King County, pharmacist Samah Omar Hassanein has been charged with unprofessional conduct, facing allegations that he used his position to dispense controlled substances for his own use between January and May of 2023. Meanwhile, a registered nursing assistant, Tyara Robin Scott from Kitsap County, apparently found themselves under scrutiny for potentially dipping into a patient's financial resources, a serious no-no in any line of work, especially health care.

Another case from Snohomish County shows that Melanie Elliot-Morgan has been ordered to cease and desist from practicing Eastern medicine without a license, for which she also faces a $1,000 fine. Coming out of Spokane County, registered nurse Alexander Lee Blackburn was charged with the kind of behavior that gives professionals a bad name: sexual misconduct with a recovering patient. Dealing with vulnerable individuals requires responsibility and care, something Blackburn seemingly forgot.

Meanwhile, out-of-staters aren't off the hook either. Isatou Gassama Manka from Kansas reached an agreement on the conditions of reinstatement for her nursing licenses. Set under a year-long probation, Manka is obliged to work under an employer who will keep a close eye through quarterly reports and ensure she hits the books for some additional education on boundaries. The series of disciplinary actions reflects the ongoing efforts to uphold the integrity and safety of health care in Washington, ensuring that trust in health services remains steadfast.

For those wanting to keep up with how Washington's health care providers are stacking up, the Department of Health's website offers a "Health Care Provider Lookup" tool. It's the type of transparency we don't always see in health care or other industries, really—a breath of fresh air for consumers who can use this resource to verify the license status, renewal dates, and any disciplinary history of their providers. And for those who've experienced questionable behavior from their health care providers, the department maintains an open line at 360-236-4700 for complaints. It's a reminder that in the state of Washington, professional accountability is still very much alive.