For immediate release: December 8, 2005 (05-163)

Contact:
Media inquiries: Deanna Whitman, Communications Office (360) 236-4022
Public inquiries: Health Professions Customer Service (360) 236-4700

State revokes, suspends licenses, certifications, registrations of health care providers

OLYMPIA • The Health Professions Quality Assurance Office (HPQA) of the Washington State Department of Health has revoked or suspended the licenses, certifications, or registrations of health care providers in the state. The information on the cases reported in this news release represents the status of each item on the date the news release was issued.

HPQA is responsible for protecting and enhancing the health of the people of Washington by assuring access to safe, competent health care providers. HPQA personnel work in partnership with 12 boards, four commissions, and nine advisory committees to set licensing standards for 55 health care professions (e.g., medical doctors, nurses, counselors).

Information on Washington» s health care providers is now available online at our new Provider Credential Search Web site (https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/providercredentialsearch/). 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 HPQA, 360-236-4700. Consumers who think a health care provider acted unprofessionally are also encouraged to call and report their complaint.

In November 2005 the Nursing Assistant Program indefinitely suspended the certification of nursing assistant Charie E. Vargas-Whit (NC10063999). She failed to comply with the terms and conditions of a prior order.

In November 2005 the Nursing Commission indefinitely suspended the license of registered nurse Deborah Gerbing (RN00141697). She failed to comply with prior limitation placed against her license.

In November 2005 the Nursing Assistant Program revoked the certification of nursing assistant Michele Robertson (NC10076976) for 10 years. She financially exploited a vulnerable adult by stealing cash, property and a prescription from the patient. Robertson pled guilty to theft.

In November 2005 the Nursing Assistant Program indefinitely suspended the registration of nursing assistant Leann C. Wilcowski (NA00169659). She stole cash from a patient and pled guilty to theft.

In November 2005 the Nursing Assistant Program indefinitely suspended the registration of nursing assistant Michelle L. Vasquez (NA00152731). The Arizona Board of Nursing revoked her Arizona nursing assistant license after she admitted marijuana use. Michelle L. Vasquez is also known as Michelle Bailey.

In November 2005 the Unlicensed Practice Program issued a Cease and Desist Order against Richard C. Bowler. He must immediately stop the unlicensed practice of counseling and hypnotherapy. He is not licensed to practice as a health care professional.

In November 2005 the Nursing Assistant Program indefinitely suspended the registration of nursing assistant Michael G. Butler (NA00138192). He neglected the care and oversight of patients by sleeping during his shift.

In November 2005 the Unlicensed Practice Program issued a Cease and Desist Order against Sandy Critchfield-Kennedy. She must immediately stop practicing medicine without a license. She conducted blood draws and injections upon patients between 1999 and 2004 after her registered nurse license expired in 1994.

In November 2005 the Nursing Assistant Program revoked the certification of nursing assistant Mohammed N. Haji (NC10059118) for 10 years. Haji physically and verbally abused a patient.

In November 2005 the Chiropractic Commission suspended the license of chiropractor David A.C. Hall (CH00033869) for five years. He failed to notify his patients that he was closing his practice or refer his patients to other health care providers. Hall was also convicted of assault in the second and fourth degrees.

In November 2005 the Nursing Assistant Program revoked the certification of nursing assistant Jaime P. Lim (NC10078367) for 10 years. Lim touched patients» breasts in a nonconsensual and sexual manner.

In November 2005 the Dispensing Optician Program indefinitely suspended the registration of Melissa D. Mayer (DT10005273, DT10004025). She practiced as a dispensing optician apprentice without a valid registration and displayed business cards which indicated she was the manager optician. Melissa D. Mayer is also known as Melissa D. Knapp.

In November 2005 the Nursing Assistant Program indefinitely suspended the certification of Momodou Secka to practice as a nursing assistant (NC10032829). He failed to comply with the terms and conditions of a prior order.

In November 2005 the Nursing Commission revoked the license of registered nurse Frank Shields (RN00148929) for 10 years. He diverted a controlled substance from his workplace for his own non-therapeutic use.

In November 2005 the Nursing Commission revoked the license of registered nurse Mark T. Warren (RN00096374) for 10 years. He represented himself as an advanced registered nurse practitioner and registered nurse while his license was suspended.

In November 2005 the Pharmacy Board revoked the shopkeeper» s registration of Seunghwa Corporation, doing business as Park View Terrace Grocery (UBI No. 602114286) for 10 years. Owner Seung Hwa Lee knowingly sold more than the legal amount of pseudoephedrine products. He was convicted of sale, transfer or furnishing of substance for unlawful purposes in Kitsap County Superior Court.

In November 2005 the Dental Commission revoked the license of dentist Marc. R. Joondeph (DE00004629) for five years. Joondeph engaged several minor patients in sexual internet conversations. He pled guilty in King County Superior Court to several sex offenses, including possessing depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

In November 2005 the Nursing Commission revoked the license of licensed practical nurse Donald E. Randall (LP00046191) for 10 years. He was charged with two counts of rape of a child in the first degree and charged with possession of a firearm on school property.

In November 2005 the Nursing Assistant Program indefinitely suspended the certification of nursing assistant Paula Sabina Somol (NC10060652). She borrowed money from a patient and did not return it.

In October 2005 the Unlicensed Practice Program issued a Cease and Desist Order against David Enge. He must immediately stop the unlicensed practice of his dispensing optician business.

In November 2005 the Nursing Assistant Program revoked the certification of nursing assistant Starla R. Parker (NC10076125) for 10 years. She used a patient» s credit card for several unauthorized transactions.

In November 2005 the Registered Counselor Program revoked the registration of registered counselor Marc D. Deavenport (RC00049871) for five years. He failed to comply with the terms and conditions of a prior order.

In November 2005 the Registered Counselor and Chemical Dependency Professional Programs revoked the certifications of registered counselor and chemical dependency professional Julie A. Hipp (RC00044552, CP00004582) for three years. Hipp failed to meet with a client, made false reports and crossed professional boundaries with clients.

In November 2005 the Unlicensed Practice Program issued a Cease and Desist Order against Patsy J. Mattfeld. She performed various tests on patients.

In November 2005 the Unlicensed Practice Program issued a Cease and Desist Order against Donald Gerlick. He must immediately stop the unlicensed practice of chiropractic. He practiced as a chiropractor after his license had expired.

(Many health care providers hold licenses in more than one state. Department of Health receives information each month from national groups on disciplined health care providers. When another state» s regulatory group takes actions, the equivalent board/commission/program in Washington files unprofessional conduct charges against the provider» s Washington credential.)

Idaho: In November 2005 the Massage Program indefinitely suspended the license of Deeta Vaughan-Dvorak, a massage therapist licensed in Washington (MA00004958). She failed to comply with the terms and conditions of a prior order.

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