State Revokes, Suspends Licenses, Certifications, Registrations of Health Care Providers

OLYMPIA, Wash., April 2 -- The Washington state Department of Health issued the following news release:

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 Systems Quality Assurance Division works with boards, commissions and advisory committees to set licensing standards for more than 80 health care professions (e.g., medical doctors, nurses, counselors).

Information about health care providers is on the agency's website. Click on "Look up a healthcare provider license(https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/providercredentialsearch/)" in the "How Do I?" section of the Department of Health home page (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.

Clallam County

In March 2013 the Massage Practitioner Program indefinitely suspended the credential of massage practitioner Rachel L. Wolf (MA60264825) for not complying with an order to participate in a substance abuse monitoring program.

Clark County

In March 2013 the Secretary of Health ordered Wendy A. Barrantes to cease-and-desist the unlicensed practice of massage. She has never held a massage practitioner credential.

Cowlitz County

In February 2013 the Nursing Commission indefinitely suspended the credential of registered nurse Thomas C. Lewis (RN00096014). While employed at a Longview hospital, Lewis didn't document giving prescription medications to two patients, and documented giving morphine to a patient who wasn't prescribed the drug. Before being reinstated, he's ordered to pay a $1,000 file and complete 32 hours of continuing education in medication administration, documentation, and ethics.

Grant County

In February 2013 the Secretary of Health permanently revoked the credential of certified nursing assistant Denis D. Mulamba (NC10089932). In November 2012 he was found guilty of felony child assault and criminal mistreatment, and sentenced to 40 years in jail for severely beating his girlfriend's two children, ages 4 and 8.

Island County

In March 2013 the Medical Commission suspended the license of physician Bradford S. Weeks (MC00030856) for at least three years and fined him $5,000. In 2009 he offered human growth hormone (HGH) for sale on the Internet as an anti-aging remedy. Federal law bans HGH use for anti-aging. He also prescribed HGH for at least three patients but didn't test them for adult growth hormone deficiency or another diagnosis that would justify the prescription.

King County

In March 2013 the Secretary of Health suspended the credential of certified nursing assistant Michaela Jamila Jones (NC10100505) for at least two years for stealing a credit card from a co-worker to make purchases. She didn't have permission to take or use the credit card.

In March 2013 physician and orthopedic surgeon James E. Clark (MD00030484) agreed to cease his medical practice and comply with an informal stipulation by the Medical Commission to participate in a substance abuse monitoring program. He's currently enrolled in a treatment program in another state.

In March 2013 the Secretary of Health suspended the credential of registered nursing assistant Nita B. Simonelli (NA60213648) for at least five years. She was fired from her job in an assisted living facility for stealing jewelry from a resident.

Pierce County

In February 2013 the Nursing Assistant Program suspended the credential of registered nursing assistant Betty Ireigbe (NA60076979) for at least five years. In October 2011 the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) found that Ireigbe abused and neglected a vulnerable adult. The DSHS finding prohibits her from being employed in a position involving the care of vulnerable adults.

In March 2013 the Secretary of Health suspended the credential of registered nursing assistant James M. Stewart (NA60029197) for at least three years. While employed at an adult family home in November 2011, he diverted drugs from patients for his personal use.

Snohomish County

In March 2013 the Nursing Assistant Program indefinitely suspended the credential of registered nursing assistant Kathleen Ann Baron (NA60267676) for not complying with an agreement to participate in a substance abuse assessment and monitoring program.

In February 2013 the Board of Physical Therapy permanently revoked the credential of physical therapist assistant Cassius Lee Ekhator (P160033015). His Washington credential was immediately suspended in October 2012 following actions taken by the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board for repeatedly applying for credentials with incomplete, inaccurate, and false information.

Spokane County

In March 2013 the Secretary of Health suspended the credential of registered nursing assistant Emily Jean Thomas (NA60256506) for at least two years. In June 2012 Thomas was employed as a nursing assistant, caring for a quadriplegic vulnerable adult. She failed to report for her scheduled shift and left the patient unattended for about eight hours. When she reported, she admitted to being under the influence of methamphetamine.

In February 2013 the Nursing Commission suspended the credential of registered nurse Christa Wandolowski (RN00144181) for at least 24 months for not complying with an agreement to participate in a substance abuse monitoring program.

Thurston County

In February 2013 the Nursing Commission rescinded suspension for registered nurse Michael Dennis Followell (RN60188057) and reinstated his credential. His Washington credential was suspended in November 2012 following actions taken by the Alaska Nursing Board.

In February 2013 the Department of Health placed the certified counselor credential for Sue Whitmore Batson (FC00000173 and CL60163482) on probation for five years and suspended her credential of sex offender treatment provider for at least two years. For about five years, she co-facilitated weekly group therapy sessions for sex offenders with a probation officer who was not identified as a probation officer, creating unreasonable risk of harm to clients who revealed information that could be reported to law enforcement. She was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and given several conditions before her sex offender treatment provider license would be reinstated including completing 24 hours of graduate-level education, attend professional conferences, and pass a jurisprudence exam.

Yakima County

In March 2013 the Medical Commission suspended the license of physician James H. Mafera (MD00048625) for at least a year. He's also required to complete a two-year medical residency program. In 2008 and 2009 he wrote narcotic prescriptions for a patient outside a formal medical practice while involved in a social relationship with her. He didn't keep complete records for her, failed to keep a log of his prescribing and dispensing, and didn't have a valid U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency registration. He was fined $1,000, and is required to take courses in physician-patient boundaries, ethics, recordkeeping, pain management, assessment and follow-up. Out of State

Arizona: In March 2013 the Nursing Commission immediately suspended the credential of registered nurse Breanna S. Bolley (RN60180830). In November 2012 she surrendered her Arizona nursing credential to the Arizona Nursing Board. The Arizona Board determined she had diverted drugs from her employer and was under the influence of morphine and Ativan while on duty as a nurse.

California: In March 2013 the Department of Health dismissed charges against certified counselor Daysi Lorena Brown (CL60162307).

California: In March 2013 the Secretary of Health ordered Liping Zhang to cease-and-desist the unlicensed practice of massage and fined Zhang $1,000. Zhang worked at Blue Sky Spa in Kent in 2011.

Montana: In February 2013 the Secretary of Health ordered Dana A. Kluever to cease-and-desist the unlicensed practice of physician and fined Kluever $13,000.

The Department of Health website (doh.wa.gov) is your source for a healthy dose of information. Also, find us on Facebook(http://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-State-Department-of-Health/117762158270896) and follow us on Twitter(http://www.twitter.com/WA_DeptofHealth).

TNS-LE 130403-4276188 StaffFurigay