State disciplines health care providers

OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health has taken disciplinary actions or withdrawn charges against the following health care providers in our state.

The department’s Health Systems Quality Assurance Division works with boards, commissions, and advisory committees to set licensing standards for more than 80 health care professions (e.g., dentists, nurses, counselors). Information about disciplinary action taken against medical doctors and physician assistants can be found on the Washington Medical Commission (WMC) website. Questions about WMC disciplinary actions can be sent to media@wmc.wa.gov.

Information about health care providers is on the agency website. Click on “Look up a health care provider license” in the “How Do I?” section of the Department of Health website (doh.wa.gov). The site includes information about a health care provider’s license status, the expiration and renewal date of their credential, disciplinary actions and copies of legal documents issued after July 1998. This information is also available by calling 360-236-4700. Consumers who think a health care provider acted unprofessionally are encouraged to call and report their complaint.

Benton County

In July 2022 the secretary of health granted with conditions a substance use disorder professional trainee license to Hannah Elizabeth Cowin (CO61291072). Cowin agreed to the conditions, which include probation for 24 months, professional supervision, and quarterly performance reports. In 2017, Cowin was convicted of possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of a controlled substance in superior court. In 2016, she was convicted of three counts of theft.

In May 2022 the secretary of health granted with conditions an agency affiliated counselor license to Tricia Elizabeth Tyner, also known as Tricia Elizabeth Tyner-Longhorn, (CG61203426). Tyner agreed to the conditions, which include two years’ probation, professional supervision, and quarterly performance evaluations. In 2018, Tyner was convicted of identity theft in a California Superior Court.

Clallam County

In July 2022 the Dental Commission ended probation on the dentist license of Abel Luis Riojas (DE00010763).

Clark County

In July 2022 the Nursing Assistant Program charged certified nursing assistant Roberto Zitri Espinoza Vargas (NC60996291) with unprofessional conduct. Vargas allegedly abused a vulnerable adult who was a patient in the locked memory care unit of an assisted living facility where he worked. Charges state that Vargas wrongly told the patient, who suffered from dementia, that his family was deceased, and the patient had killed them. Vargas also allegedly pushed, pulled, choked, and forcefully restrained the patient against his will by lying on top of him.

Jefferson County

In July 2022 the secretary of health withdrew charges against independent social worker Shannon M. Tierney (LW00007915).

King County

In July 2022 the Unlicensed Practice Program notified Therese A. Henning (MA00012801) of its intent to issue a cease-and-desist order for allegedly practicing massage without a license and advertising to provide massage services.

In July 2022 the Pharmacy Commission charged pharmacy assistant and technician Mark Alan Schultz (VB60802080, VA60968405) with unprofessional conduct. Schultz allegedly took merchandise from the pharmacy where he worked, including two bottles of Alprazolam, a controlled substance.

In July 2022 the secretary of health ended probation on the registered agency affiliated counselor license of Luther Armane Mitchell-Walker (CG61072042).

In July 2022 the secretary of health ended probation on the nursing assistant license of Wakila Monique Rankin (NC60335443).

Kitsap County

In July 2022 the Massage Therapy Program charged massage therapist Matthew Richard Timmons (MA60171973) with unprofessional conduct. He did not respond to an investigator about a complaint alleging Timmons practiced massage with an expired license.

Pacific County

In July 2022 the Nursing Commission charged registered nurse Liza A. Johnson (RN00150962) with unprofessional conduct. Johnson allegedly disclosed criminal convictions for burglary and theft, after submitting a reactivation application for her license.