A Look into the Investigation of Nurse Caught Stapling Ivermectin Directions to Covid Patients' Papers at Confluence Health ER
Kristin Jerezano, whose nursing license is currently on probation, spoke at an anti-vaccine event this year – potentially violating the terms of her probation
Washington State Department of Health records reveal the details of the investigation into Kristin Jerezano, the former Confluence Health emergency room nurse who was stapling directions for Ivermectin and other unproven COVID-19 treatments to patients’ discharge papers at the Wenatchee Valley Clinic during the pandemic.
Jerezano spoke at an anti-vaccine event emceed by Chelan Douglas Health District Board Member Bill Sullivan and headlined by NBA Hall of Famer and conspiracy theorist John Stockton in January of this year. At that event, she alluded that she was fired for being a “critical thinker” and challenging “medical censorship and mandates.”
“During the pandemic, I lost my job for educating my patients about other potentially-effective treatments for COVID-19,” she said.
However, records show that Jerezano wasn’t fired. She was allowed to resign.
After an investigation by the DOH, her nursing license was put on a two-year probation, with conditions that include a ban on “making false or misleading statements.”
“The only approved preventative treatment by the CDC and FDA is the emergency use authorized COVID-19 mRNA injection,” Jerezano at the event in January. “These have also failed to prove safety and efficacy.”
She also brought up a favorite talking point of anti-vaccine activists and conspiracy theorists – VAERS data.
“Pfizer’s study also revealed nine full pages, single spaced, of adverse effects related to their vaccine as well as more total deaths in the vaccinated group than in the non-vaccinated group,” she said. “Their data correlates with over 1 million adverse effects and over 32,000 deaths reported to the Vaccine Adverse Effects Reporting System, also known as VAERS, which is estimated to be largely underreported.”
Covid misinformation based on VAERS data has been a big part of the Covid-related conspiracy theory ecosystem since the vaccines were rolled out. You can learn more about the benefits, and limitations, of the system and how it has been co-opted by those with anti-vaccine agendas via FactCheck.org here.
For full context of what Jerezano said, you can listen to her entire speech and the standing ovation she got at the end here.
Jerezano now works for Karl Lambert, owner of the Pacific Northwest Wellness Center, formerly known as Redimedi Clinic. Lambert is no stranger to DOH investigations himself.
Although sources on background told me it was Jerezano who had stapled the unapproved medical directions to patients’ discharge papers after I first wrote about it back in 2021, I didn’t request her files until after she spoke at the event this January.
What follows is a brief overview of that investigation, the details of the conditions of the probation agreement Jerezano signed to resolve the matter, and the consequences she could face for violating those conditions.
Let’s start with the transcript of the initial interview with Confluence Health supervisors after Jerezano had been caught and reported to the DOH by a whistleblower.
The interview was conducted by Brandi Jacobson, Nursing Manager of Emergency Services, Jason Morley, Director of Talent Management, and Kevin Forrest, Senior Employee & Labor Relations Specialist for Confluence on the morning of Oct. 5, 2021.
It’s clear these Confluence managers were worried about the liability issues that could result in patients following the directions Jerezano stapled to their discharge papers and taking a turn for the worse.
I reached out to Confluence Health for an official comment after reading through Jerezano’s file. I was curious why Confluence allowed Jerezano to resign rather than terminate her, so I reached out to their communications department on May 12, writing:
1. What was the rationale behind allowing Jerezano to resign rather than terminating her employment?
2. Was Confluence concerned about legal exposure due to Jerezano’s decision to send Covid patients home with directions on how to use Ivermectin to treat Covid?
3. Did Confluence provide a reference for Ms. Jerezano? I see that she was promised a “neutral” letter of reference if she agreed to resign.
4. Was there communication between Confluence and other area healthcare providers regarding her and her decision to give Covid patients ivermectin directions?
Later that day I got a response from Adam MacDonald, corporate communications program manager for Confluence.
“Good afternoon. Thank you for reaching out. At this time, we have no comment on these questions. If this changes, I will be sure to reach out,” he wrote.
Whatever the reason Confluence allowed her to resign, the concern about legal liability due to Jerezano’s actions were valid. There are documented cases of other local patients being prescribed Ivermectin to treat COVID and nearly dying, according to loved ones.
In October 2021, I interviewed a woman named Leanne Lafferty who said her father nearly died because he was taking Ivermectin prescribed by Karl Lambert to treat Covid when he should have gotten vaccinated and gone to the hospital once he was struggling to breathe. Lafferty said Lambert strenuously advised against going to Confluence Health for treatment, even though his oxygen levels were dangerously low.
You can watch that interview here.
On Oct. 14, 2021, Jerezano resigned from Confluence Health.
Here’s her letter of resignation.