Health Worker Report, Oct. 26, 2024

The Washington State Department of Health recently took disciplinary actions or has withdrawn charges against these Clark County providers.

In December 2023, the secretary of health indefinitely suspended the chiropractor license of Mark S. Larue for at least 10 years. Prior to petitioning for reinstatement, Larue must pay a $5,000 fine, undergo a psycho-sexual evaluation, complete an ethics and boundaries assessment, and pass a jurisprudence exam. Larue was convicted of one count of second-degree rape, a Class A felony. Larue was also convicted of one count of indecent liberties without forcible compulsion, a Class B felony. Larue failed to appear at a scheduled pre-hearing conference in June 2023.

In August 2024, the Board of Nursing summarily suspended the registered nurse license of Phil Hoover pending further legal action. In April 2024, the Oregon State Board of Nursing accepted the surrender of Hoover’s license to practice as a registered nurse. The Oregon State Board of Nursing based its decision on allegations of derogatory conduct by Hoover that included incidents of violent, abusive or reckless behavior, and failure to conform to standards of acceptable nursing practice. Hoover yelled at staff after being asked to leave a patient’s room and chest bumped his preceptor.

State health officials have suspended the credential of Clark County treatment provider Michael P. Chambers pending further legal action.

Charges state that Chambers committed unprofessional conduct when he crossed professional boundaries with a vulnerable patient. Chambers allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conduct with the patient. Chambers is also alleged to have accompanied the patient outside, where he shared his vape pen.

Chambers cannot practice in Washington until the charges against his credential are resolved. He has 20 days to respond to the charges and to ask for a hearing.

In September 2024, the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission charged pharmacist David N. Ruark with unprofessional conduct. Allegations state that in August 2022, Ruark was listed as the responsible pharmacy manager for a health care entity but had not worked there since July 2020. Ruark also failed to perform any of the required duties, including site visits and inspections, while listed as the responsible pharmacy manager.

In September 2024, the Board of Nursing charged registered nurse Brianna Janel Williams with unprofessional conduct. Allegations state that Williams borrowed $2,357.25 in November 2022 from a minor client’s parents. Williams failed to repay the loan until the client’s parents notified Williams’ employer in October 2023. Williams failed to respond to the board’s request for a written response to the allegations.