State boards revoke licenses of local EMT, RN

Discipline reports provided as news releases by the state boards of Emergency Medical Services and Nursing cited two individuals in the area.

The license of Dyersburg Emergency Medical Technician Billy Essary III was revoked by the Tennessee Board of Emergency Medical Services on June 24, although Essary did not attend the hearing scheduled to decide his case.

Essary received his EMT-IV license on Oct. 5, 2007. In January 2008, he was referred to the Tennessee Professional Assistance Program for unprofessional conduct and a positive test result in a urinary drug screening. He was dismissed by TNPAP in February and found guilty of simple possession of morphine and valium by the Lauderdale County General Sessions Court in September 2008.

Essary did not file an appeal before the deadline to petition for reconsideration of the final order.

Elizabeth Kay Bailey Tucker of Friendship did not attend the June 4 hearing determining her fate before the Tennessee Board of Nursing, either.

This is the second time Tucker has been disciplined by the Nursing Board. In December 2006, she was placed on probation by Tennessee Professional Assistance Program.

On four occasions in August and September of 2005, while employed at Ford Sanders Regional Medical Center in Heiskill, Tenn., Tucker withdrew a larger amount of morphine than she administered to patients without disposing of the excess medicine properly. Her record indicates 17 mg of morphine unaccounted for from Aug. 9 until Sept. 15, 2005. On Oct. 6, she tested positive for methadone in a "reasonable cause" drug screening while on duty. Tucker's license was suspended and she was placed on probation. She was assessed one Type A Civil Penalty in the amount of $1,000.

This June, Tucker was dismissed by TNPAP for non-compliance with a TNPAP contract and failure to pay costs. Her license was revoked by the board and she was assessed two Type A Civil Penalties in the amount of $1,000 each. She will also be responsible for costs not to exceed $2,000.

"In the matter of Elizabeth Kay Bailey Tucker, RN, revocation of license and civil penalties is appropriate in order to protect the public," reads the state nursing board's report. "It is the responsibility of the board to protect citizens of Tennessee and appropriate board action has been taken in this case to protect the citizens of Tennessee."

Tucker did not file an appeal before the deadline to petition for reconsideration of the final order.