For immediate release: April 14, 2008 (08-052)

Contact:
Media inquiries: Allison Cook, Communications Office 360-236-4022
Public inquiries: Health Professions Customer Service  360-236-4700

This document has been edited for factual accuracy

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

OLYMPIA ¾ The Washington State Department of Health has revoked or suspended the licenses, certifications, or registrations of health care providers in our state. The department has also immediately suspended the credentials of people who have been prohibited from practicing in other states.

The department’s Health Professions Quality Assurance Office works with boards, commissions and advisory committees to set licensing standards for 57 health care professions (e.g., medical doctors, nurses, counselors).

Information about health care providers is on the agency’s 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.

In March 2008 the Health Care Assistant Program suspended the credential of Joel D. Richardson (HC00135653). Richardson accessed personal and medical information of a patient and used that information to locate the patient’s home and illegally enter in an attempt to obtain prescription drugs.

In March 2008 the Board of Pharmacy revoked the credential of pharmacy intern Sara M. Cunningham (IR00056885). Cunningham diverted various controlled substances from her place of employment.

In March 2008 the Chiropractic Commission denied the reactivation application of Bradley L. Akridge (CH00001829). Akridge was convicted of possession of cocaine on more than one occasion. He was also convicted of third degree theft.

In March 2008 the Registered Counselor Program indefinitely suspended the credential of Vickie T. Anderson (RC00056803). Anderson failed to comply with a previous order.

In February 2008 Milton Ashley (MD00004161) agreed to permanently surrender his license to practice medicine in the state of Washington. He provided substandard care including treating patients without identifying patient history and coordinating care with patient’s primary care providers. He wrote prescriptions in the name of a patient knowing the drugs were for the patient’s girlfriend and failed to re-evaluate a patient’s initial diagnosis and medications when the patient deteriorated.

In March 2008 the Board of Pharmacy revoked the credential of pharmacy assistant Mary C. Hodge (VB00061400). Hodge diverted controlled substances and legend drugs.

In March 2008 the Nursing Assistant Program suspended the credential of Ieesha Kelly (NA00155057). Kelly was convicted of third degree assault.

In March 2008 the Nursing Commission summarily suspended the license of registered nurse Darren M. Slater (RN00122213). Slater voluntarily surrendered his credential to practice as a registered nurse in Arizona.

In March 2008 the Nursing Assistant Program revoked the credential of Juanita Gragasin (NA00142846). Gragasin financially exploited a patient for her own profit or advantage. Her improper appropriation of the funds exceeded the amount of $6000.

In March 2008 the Nursing Commission indefinitely suspended the license of registered nurse Mary Elizabeth Mullen (RN00122217). Mullen allowed a 10-year old to wheel a patient to bed and failed to properly administer medication to a patient.

In March 2008 the Nursing Assistant Program suspended the credential of Adalinda R. Vaona (NA00182217). Vaona was convicted of possession of methamphetamine.

In March 2008 the Nursing Assistant Program indefinitely suspended the credential of Rachel A. Bainard (NC10088972). Bainard was convicted of third degree theft and possession of a legend drug without a prescription for diverting a patient’s pain medication.

In March 2008 the Registered Counselor Program indefinitely suspended the credential of William T. Haavik (RC00053912). Haavik failed to comply with a previous order.

In March 2008 the Board of Pharmacy revoked the credential of pharmacy technician Erika M. Janzou (VA00065940). Janzou diverted controlled substances from her place of employment.

In March 2008 the Radiologic Technologist Program revoked the credential of Robert C. Lyons (RT00005290). Lyons was disbarred from the practice of law in Washington for unprofessional conduct.

In March 2008 the Nursing Commission suspended the license of licensed practical nurse Roberta Manford (LP00013636). Manford was the on-call nurse when a patient had fallen and hit his head. She failed to give the caregivers on duty sufficient instructions to take care of the patient. When she arrived at the facility, she did not assess the patient’s condition and failed to document previous contact with the caregiver or her appearance at the facility. She also denied she had been contacted by the caregiver and failed to notify the family of the fall and change in condition until after the patient’s death.

In March 2008 the Secretary of the Health withdrew the statement of charges against registered counselor Robert H. Young, Jr. (RC00032885).

In March 2008 the Unlicensed Practice Program issued a cease and desist order against Marek Bucko to permanently cease and desist from practicing as a chiropractor in the state of Washington. Bucko’s license expired in 2004.

In February 2008 the Health Care Assistant Program suspended the credential of Jan M. Myers (HC00147527). Myers failed to comply with previous terms set against her credential.

In Mach 2008 the Nursing Assistant Program revoked the credential of Bethany D. Dyczok (NA00141056). Dyczok abandoned residents of an adult care home where she worked and did not comply with a prior order against her credential.

In March 2008 the Nursing Assistant Program indefinitely suspended the credential of Nicole A. Fowler (NA00157961). Fowler failed to comply with previous terms set against her credential.

In March 2008 the Board of Pharmacy revoked the credential of Desirae A. Gutierrez (VA00060721). Gutierrez tested positive for amphetamines and benzodiazepines during a random urinalysis at her place of employment.

In March 2008 the Nursing Assistant Program indefinitely suspended the credential of Nick J. McNair (NA00191956). McNair used derogatory and profane language while talking to a patient. He also pulled a seatbelt from the patient’s hands in a rough manner. He failed to respond to department inquiries regarding the event.

In March 2008 the Registered Counselor Program indefinitely suspended the credential of Michael E. Dassow (RC00055441). Dassow failed to comply with a previous order.

In February 2008 the Medical Commission revoked the credential of George E. Kabacy (MD00030345). Kabacy was convicted of possession of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

In February 2008 the Nursing Assistant Program revoked the credential of James Robinson (NA00182795). Robinson’s adult family home license was revoked for failing to meet the needs of six vulnerable residents.

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