State disciplines health care providers

OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health has taken disciplinary actions or withdrawn charges against the following health care providers in our state.

The department’s Health Systems Quality Assurance Division works with boards, commissions, and advisory committees to set licensing standards for more than 80 health care professions (e.g., dentists, nurses, counselors). Information about disciplinary action taken against medical doctors and physician assistants can be found on the Washington Medical Commission (WMC) website. Questions about WMC disciplinary actions can be sent to media@wmc.wa.gov.

Information about health care providers is on the agency website. Click on “Look up a health care provider license” in the “How Do I?” section of the Department of Health website (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 encouraged to call and report their complaint.

Clark County

In January 2023 the Surgical Technologist Program charged registered surgical technologist Shawna Lea Lamb (ST60168560) with unprofessional conduct. Charges state that her behavior at work was out of character and included an inability to focus, slurred speech, and staggering, among other things. A test allegedly showed that she was positive for alcohol.

In January 2023 the Medical Assistant Program charged Brandon Richard Cullen (PC60886045), who is certified as a medical assistant-phlebotomist, with unprofessional conduct, for allegedly working without an active credential. He also allegedly collected a fee from two patients and failed to deliver samples to the laboratory while his license was expired.

King County

In December 2022 the Nursing Commission and Sandra J. Kennedy (AP30003689-NP, RN00099564) agreed to an order that places Kennedy’s advanced registered nurse and registered nurse licenses on probation for at least two years. During probation, Kennedy must notify the Commission of current and future employment, not engage in solo practice, and practice only under the oversight of another advanced registered nurse, among other conditions. Kennedy prescribed controlled substances for her husband for about four years and kept no records regarding assessments or patient responses to treatment, had no documented treatment plan, and Kennedy was not a qualified pain management specialist.

In January 2023 the Pharmacy Commission charged pharmacist Hardik Jentilal Ajudia (PH60580454) with unprofessional conduct for allegedly processing and billing insurance for prescriptions for a patient who is now his wife, without provider approval.

In December 2022 the Dental Commission ended conditions on the dentist license of Stephen L. Ong (DE00006528).

Pierce County

In January 2023 the Nursing Commission ended conditions on the registered nurse license of Sara Marie Carterette (RN00160764).

In December 2022 the secretary of health granted, with conditions, a marriage and family therapist license to Scott Patrick Mc Kinney(LF61337221). McKinney agreed to the conditions, which include continued compliance with a 2021 agreed order. In the 2021 order, he acknowledged that he surrendered his California credential for submitting fraudulent documents in connection with an application.

In January 2023 the Chiropractic Commission charged chiropractor Jamie Kathleen Mullen (CH60582943) with unprofessional conduct. The charges state that at the clinic Mullen co-owned, chiropractors, staff, and patients did not wear masks and the clinic did not have COVID-19 safety signs in violation of the governor’s order.

Spokane County

In January 2023 the secretary of health conditionally granted a substance use disorder professional trainee license to Zackery Allen Fields (CO61346451). Fields agreed to the conditions, which include probation for three years, professional supervision, and quarterly performance evaluations. In 2019, Fields was convicted of arson and retail theft in Spokane County Superior Court.

In December 2022 the secretary of health denied the home care aide license application of Ajaree Shanchez Bostic (HM60949619). The Department of Social and Health Services placed Bostic on the vulnerable adult abuse registry in April for using a patient’s resources and financial accounts to charge $4,000 to pay his own rent.

In January 2023 the Mental Health Counselor Program charged mental health counselor Katherine Marie Jessop (LH60090942) with unprofessional conduct after she allegedly drafted a letter recommending custody for a patient that included sensitive and private information. Jessop allegedly improperly inserted herself into the custody dispute and created an improper conflict between her role as a treating counselor and a mediator.