OLYMPIA — State health officials immediately suspended the credential of former Washington surgical technician Rocky Allen on Feb. 29, 2016, after learning his credential was suspended in Colorado for allegations that he removed a syringe labeled fentanyl, replaced it with another syringe and tested positive for fentanyl and marijuana.

Though Allen’s Washington credential was expired, he’d recently applied for reactivation. The department’s action to immediately suspend Allen’s Washington license prevents him from renewing his license in Washington until the legal action is complete. Allen has 20 days to request a hearing to contest the suspension of his Washington license.

The investigation has also found that during Allen’s time in Washington, he was employed at three medical facilities: Kitsap County, Naval Hospital Bremerton; King County, Northwest Hospital; Pierce County, Lakewood Surgery Center. The investigation is still open, but at this time, the investigation has not turned up any other health care facilities where Allen worked in Washington.

The three facilities performed an internal investigation and consulted with local and state public health, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to assess potential risk to patient safety.

Although there was no evidence of any patient exposure, and the risk is thought to be very low, both Northwest Hospital and Lakewood Surgery Center have notified patients who had surgery during Allen’s employment and recommended that they be tested for blood borne pathogens. For additional information about the patient notifications, please see: Lakewood Surgery Center, goo.gl/YBlu5Q; or Northwest Hospital patient information, goo.gl/VX4cTF.