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OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health has taken disciplinary actions or withdrawn charges against the following health care providers in our state.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 “Health Care Provider Lookup” under the “Find it Fast” 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.

Benton County

In May 2023 the Nursing Assistant Program and Guadalupe Gutierrez (NC60151060) agreed to conditions on her certified nursing assistant license. Gutierrez must contact a substance use monitoring program to determine if she is required to enroll. In her application, Gutierrez did not report a 2019 Oregon conviction for driving under the influence of intoxicants or the subsequent disciplinary action taken by the Oregon State Board of Nursing.

In May 2023 the Pharmacy Commission reinstated the pharmacist license of Bradley Orrin Wolfe (PH00021954). Wolfe must meet regulatory requirements for credentialing, seek evaluation with a substance use monitoring program, and if recommended comply with all aspects of the program. Wolfe’s license was suspended in September of 2007 after an Oregon order that prohibited Wolfe from practicing based on failure to comply with a previous order and violations of various drug laws. The license in Oregon is no longer revoked.

Clark County

In May 2023 the Nursing Commission charged registered nurse Janae Nichole McDaniel, also known as Janae Harper (RN60182506) with unprofessional conduct. Charges state that in July 2021, McDaniel was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud in the state of Montana.

In May 2023 the secretary of health ended the probation on the massage therapist license of Erin Kristine Rodgers (MA61055624).

In April 2023 the secretary of health and Brittani Ann LaVelle (MR61386010) agreed to conditions on her registered medical assistant license. LaVelle must submit progress reports for the next 12 months, and complete four hours of continuing education in the area of theft awareness. In July 2021, LaVelle was convicted of two counts of identity theft in the state of Oregon, a class C felony.

In May 2023 the Nursing Assistant Program charged registered nursing assistant Kimberly Ann Smith (NA00032852) with unprofessional conduct. Charges state that in 2022 when applying for other medical provider credentials, Smith did not comply with requests for a substance use evaluation. Smith was convicted of driving under the influence in 2008 and 2020.

Grant County

In May 2023 the Nursing Commission charged the licensed practical nurse license of Millicent A Mulamba (LP 00048426) with unprofessional conduct. Charges state that Mulamba appeared impaired and smelled of alcohol in April and June 2022 and worked with an expired license in June 2022 at an adult family home.

King County

In May 2023 the secretary of health ended probation on the substance use disorder professional trainee credential of Taylor Jonathon Richards (CO61238907).

In May 2023 the Chiropractic Commission reprimanded chiropractor Mark Babich (CH00003656). Babich’s license will be on probation for at least three years, during which time he must provide a disclosure of this order to any patient, allow an investigator to audit patient records unannounced up to two times per year, pay a $5,000 fine, and receive an unconditional pass from an ethics program. In December 2019, Babich began a romantic and sexual relationship with a patient.

In May 2023 the Unlicensed Practice Program notified Wenyu Li of its intent to issue a cease-and-desist order. In July 2022, Li performed massage therapy on a client, but Li does not and has never held a massage therapist license in Washington.

Pierce County

In April 2023 the Nursing Commission ended the conditions on the registered nurse license of Crystal Lee Schwab (RN60249039).

In May 2023 the Podiatric Medical Board charged podiatric surgeon Mark D Nellermoe (PO00000507) with unprofessional conduct. Charges state that between 2017 and December 2018, Nellermoe wrote prescriptions to be filled by a pharmacy that was processing payments through a company in which Nellermoe owned shares and received profits from. Some of the patients allegedly did not receive or request the medications.

In May 2023 the Nursing Assistant Program charged registered nursing assistant Antony Ngigi Mwaura (NA61175902) with unprofessional conduct. Charges state that in May 2022, Mwaura was observed drinking beer, acting intoxicated, and allegedly intentionally struck a patient with his suitcase at the adult family home where he worked. Mwaura has since not responded to two Department of Health requests for further information.

In May 2023 the Nursing Commission charged registered nurse Karen Ann Price (RN60181825) with unprofessional conduct. Charges state that from May through October of 2022, Price was brought to the hospital on several occasions because she was intoxicated and engaging in disruptive behavior. In November 2022, Price allegedly entered a substance use monitoring program.

Snohomish County

In May 2023 the Substance Use Disorder Professionals Program granted reinstatement of the substance use disorder professional license of John William Tye (CP60808054). Conditions require that the license is on probation for at least four years during which Tye’s supervisor must submit quarterly performance evaluations, and Tye must permit an investigator to audit at least 10 patient files unannounced. In 2020, Tye engaged in a romantic and sexual relationship with a patient.

In May 2023 the Agency Affiliated Counselor Program and Substance Use Disorder Professional Program charged substance use disorder professional and agency affiliated counselor Justin John Hartfield (CP60066891, CG60279113) with unprofessional conduct. Charges state that in 2021 and 2022, Hartfield admitted to employers and the Department of Health that he had relapsed and used methamphetamines.

In May 2023 the Nursing Commission and Chukwudi E Okeke (RN61420485) granted Okeke a license to practice as a registered nurse subject to the condition that Okeke contact and actively participate in the intake process of a substance use monitoring program.

Out of State

Idaho: In May 2023 the Nursing Commission charged registered nurse Jamie Scott Falconer (RN60010434) with unprofessional conduct. Charges state that in November 2022, the Oregon State Board of Nursing accepted Falconer’s voluntary surrender of his license after Falconer was allegedly terminated from a position for a positive drug screen, while being investigated for diversion of narcotics.