The Washington State Department of Health has taken disciplinary actions or withdrawn charges against health care providers in our state.
The department's Health Systems Quality Assurance Office works with boards, commissions, and advisory committees to set licensing standards for more than 70 health care professions (e.g., medical doctors, nurses, counselors).
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Information about health care providers is on the agency Web site. Click on "Provider Credential Search" on the left hand side of the Department of Health home page (www.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 also encouraged to call and report their complaint.
Benton
Chelan
Clark
Grant
King
Kitsap
Lincoln
Okanogan
Pierce
Spokane
Thurston
Out of State
Benton County
In September 2008 the Registered Counselor and Chemical Dependency Professional Programs charged Carla J. Cook (RC00049582, CP00006162) with unprofessional conduct. She allegedly failed to comply with previous terms and conditions set against her licenses. She is also known as Carla J. Weyand, Carla Jean Hartwell, and Carla J. Hartwell.
In August 2008 the Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Social Worker Programs charged Sara Ellingson (LH00004395, LW00004036) with unprofessional conduct. Allegations include revising a proposed visitation plan without confirming the information supporting the change, discussing a patient's condition without the patient's consent, failing to communicate changes of her role to the patient, and failing to release the patient's records to the patient.
In September 2008 the Licensed Social Worker Program charged Melinda Johnson (LW00005353) with unprofessional conduct. Allegations include appearing to be biased towards one patient in a custody dispute, submitting a visitation transition plan without assessing the patient or their records, submitting a report about a patient before doing an individual evaluation and full assessment, and proposing exceeding the scope of services she was asked to perform.
In August 2008 the Nursing Assistant Program denied the application of Elyssa C. Staley (NA00201503). She was convicted of minor in possession/consumption of alcohol/liquor and violation of a court order. Staley failed to respond to department inquiries regarding the convictions.
Chelan County
In September 2008 the Health Care Assistant Program charged Laurie J. White (HC00142939) with unprofessional conduct. Her license to practice as a certified nursing assistant in Oregon was indefinitely suspended.
Clark County
In September 2008 the Dental Commission entered into an agreed order with Thomas M. Kreger (DE00005279). He extracted teeth without documenting the patient's consent and failed to supply proof of required continuing education hours in an audit. He must comply with terms and conditions set against his license.
Grant County
In September 2008 the Medical Commission amended the statement of charges against physician David T. Earl (MD00028611). Allegations include failing to maintain adequate records, failing to maintain treatment plans, prescribing large amounts of unsafe combinations of narcotics and other scheduled medications, failing to notify patients of warning signs of overuse of medications, and putting patients at risk of harm with the amounts and combination of prescriptions prescribed.
King County
In September 2008 the Medical Commission amended the statement of charges against physician John R. Brinkley (MD00014634). He allegedly failed to respond to a patient's attempt to contact him and failed to respond to department inquiries regarding the complaint of patient abandonment.
In September 2008 the Registered Counselor Program reinstated the registration of Michael B. Lewis (RC00052011).
In September 2008 the Dental Commission reinstated the license of H. Melvin Olson (DE00003488).
In September 2008 the Chiropractic Commission amended the statement of charges against chiropractor Gary A. Palmer (CH00001984). He was convicted of threats to bomb or injure property and reckless driving and entered into a deferred prosecution for driving under the influence. His license was summarily suspended in November 2007.
In August 2008 the Nursing Commission reinstated the license of registered nurse Ora Smith-Gutter (RN00079416) and placed her license on probation. She must comply with terms and conditions set against her license.
In September 2008 the Dental Commission entered into an agreed order with Lloyd M. Tucker (DE00007759). He failed to provide adequate surgical management of implants and failed to document patient consent. He must comply with terms and conditions set against his license.
Kitsap County
In September 2008 the Dental Commission reinstated the license of Hamidreza Barakhshan (DE00009257).
Lincoln County
In September 2008 the Nursing Assistant Program charged Terry L. Garvin (NC10080705) with unprofessional conduct. She was convicted of three counts of theft and five counts of health care false statement.
Okanogan County
In September 2008 the Nursing Commission charged licensed practical nurse Robyn Henderson (LP00054419) with unprofessional conduct. She was convicted of obtaining a controlled substance by forged or altered prescription, reckless driving, and hit and run (attended) vehicle.
Pierce County
In September 2008 the Dental Commission reinstated the license of Robert G. Gollaher (DE00008497).
In September 2008 the Massage Program amended the statement of charges against Edward Kim (MA00013024). He allegedly engaged in sexual contact with a patient while providing a massage treatment. He also pled guilty to assault with sexual motivation.
In August 2008 the Nursing Commission charged registered nurse Ederico B. Mariano (RN00156875) with unprofessional conduct. He allegedly dispensed but failed to document administration of a controlled substance, failed to document wastage of the controlled substance, and dispensed the controlled substance more frequently than the physician's order to a number of patients.
In September 2008 the Registered Counselor Program charged Kimberly Sparks (RC00059926) with unprofessional conduct. She allegedly failed to comply with previous terms and conditions set against her registration.
In September 2008 the Nursing Assistant Program charged Hayley M. Wiltfong (NC10082465) with unprofessional conduct. She allegedly failed to cooperate with investigation of a report that she diverted a controlled substance from her place of employment.
Spokane County
In July 2008 the Nursing Assistant Program reinstated the certification of Cody Colleen Grainger (NC10045414). She is also known as Cody Colleen Small.
In September 2008 the Nursing Assistant Program charged Gideon M. Karinga (NA00182577) with unprofessional conduct. He allegedly failed to follow a patient's care plan which placed the patient at risk of harm.
Thurston County
In July 2008 the Medical Commission charged physician William C. Williard (MD00029497) with unprofessional conduct. He allegedly failed to follow the recommendation from a dermatologist and did not remove a lesion from the patient's nose that contained basal cell carcinoma which put the patient at risk of harm.
Out of State
Arizona: In September 2008 the Medical Commission placed the license of physician Mohammed Zafar Qureshi (MD00009965) on probation until he completes the terms of the Arizona Medical Board's order. His license to practice as a physician in Arizona was placed on probation for 10 years.
California: In September 2008 the Medical Commission charged physician Khanh Pham (MD00023507) with unprofessional conduct. His license to practice as a physician in California has been placed on probation and he must comply with terms and conditions set against his license.
Florida: In September 2008 the Nursing Commission charged registered nurse Constance C. Staggs (RN00107198) with unprofessional conduct. She allegedly failed to cooperate with an investigation.