State disciplines health care providers

For immediate release: February 5, 2016                                                  (16-013)

Contact:  Media inquiries: Sharon Moysiuk, Communications Office           360-236-4074
                Public inquiries: Health Systems Customer Service                     360-236-4700

State disciplines health care providers 

OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health has taken disciplinary actions or withdrawn charges against health care providers in our state.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., medical doctors, nurses, counselors).

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.

Benton County

In September 2015 the Pharmacy Commission ended the probation of pharmacy technician and pharmacy assistant Jennifer Ruth Teas, also known as Jennifer Ruth Morris (VA60065585, VB00072781).

In September 2015 the Unlicensed Practice Program entered an agreement with Tracy Enriquez requiring Enriquez to stop practicing as a medical assistant without a license, and pay a $1,000 fine. For nearly six months, Enriquez performed the duties of a medical assistant without having a license.

In September 2015 the Medical Assistant Program charged medical assistant-phlebotomist and certified medical assistant Andrea Michelle Scott (PC60379645, CM60379650) with unprofessional conduct. Scott allegedly tested positive for amphetamine and/or methamphetamine on an employer-required drug test.

Grays Harbor County

In September 2015 the Pharmacy Commission ended probation for pharmacist Douglas L. Morrill (PH00010338, PH60217116).

Island County

In September 2015 the Pharmacy Commission charged pharmacy technician and pharmacy assistant Jayy Randall Scott Johnson (VA60442108, VB60003012) with unprofessional conduct. Charges say the pharmacy where Johnson worked investigated drug discrepancies. Johnson resigned the day of a drug screening. Charges say he tested positive for a controlled substance, and that controlled substance losses stopped after he resigned.

King County

In September 2015 the Agency Affiliated Counselor Program modified an agreement with agency affiliated counselor Bruce Christopher Evans (CG60412393) under which he will be monitored until at least May 27, 2016. Modifications in the agreement relate to the frequency of counseling sessions Evans must attend. He received his agency affiliated counselor credential in 2014. His registered counselor credential was suspended in 2009 based on sexual misconduct with a client.

In August 2015 the secretary of health denied a chemical dependency professional trainee credential to Forest Edwin Woodley (CO60405999). He surrendered his agency affiliated counselor license in 2015 in connection with providing chemical dependency services while not licensed to do so.

In September 2015 the Nursing Assistant Program charged registered nursing assistant Baboucarr Sarr (NA60157671) with unprofessional conduct. Sarr allegedly admitted engaging in sexual contact with a patient of an organization that serves people with developmental disabilities.

In September 2015 the secretary of health ordered Lili Zhou to cease and desist from practicing massage without a license, and pay a $1,000 fine. Zhou has no massage practitioner license, but operated a business where unlicensed workers provided massage.

In September 2015 the secretary of health ordered Shinkyu “Tony” Kim to cease and desist from practicing massage without a license, and pay a $2,000 fine. Kim, who doesn’t have a massage practitioner license, inappropriately touched two patients while providing massages. In 2015 Kim was charged with indecent liberties.

In August 2015 the secretary of health denied a registered nursing assistant credential to Josephat Mwangi Bwire (NA60588881). In 2015 Bwire was found to have practiced as a nursing assistant while using another person’s license.

In October 2015 the Medical Commission entered an agreement with physician Philip A. Young (MD00044851) that fines him $25,000, places him on probation and restricts his practice. Young performed facial surgery on patients who then experienced serious postoperative infections that required treatment from other professionals. He didn’t properly diagnose and treat the infections, thus resulting in unnecessary delay and exposing the patients to serious risk of harm.

Kitsap County

In September 2015 the secretary of health reinstated the registered nursing assistant and certified nursing assistant credentials of Stephen L. Jones (NA60113884, NC60170399). His licenses were suspended in 2012 in connection with failure to submit reports about his recovery status.

Lewis County

In September 2015 the Unlicensed Practice Program entered an agreement with Lynda Schroeder that requires Schroeder to cease and desist from practicing massage without a license, and pay a $1,000 fine. Schroeder, who has no massage practitioner license, provided a massage to a client.

Pierce County

In September 2015 the Massage Program charged massage practitioner Thomas Anthony Velickoff (MA00012251, CH00034710) with unprofessional conduct. In August 2015 the Chiropractic Commission found evidence of professional misconduct. Velickoff surrendered his chiropractor license. As a result, the Massage Program filed charges against Velickoff’s massage practitioner credential.

In September 2015 the Massage Program entered an agreement with massage practitioner Joan M. Shephard (MA00011038) that fines her $1,000 and requires her to successfully complete continuing education. After first asserting she had fulfilled continuing education requirements, Shephard admitted she hadn’t.

In September 2015 the Medical Commission amended a statement of charges against physician Jose A. Garcia Jr. (MD00011694) to add allegations of substandard care in treating a surgery patient, and administering injections for no valid medical purpose.

Spokane County

In September 2015 the secretary of health ended probation for chemical dependency professional trainee Magen Leeann Lloyd (CO60262329).

In September 2015 the Medical Assistant Program charged medical assistant-phlebotomist and certified medical assistant Melissa M. Thomas (PC60374147, CM60379388) with unprofessional conduct. Thomas allegedly didn’t comply with a substance abuse monitoring contract.

In October 2015 the secretary of health conditionally granted an agency-affiliated counselor credential to Leslie Clifford Matzek III (CG60553804) and ordered him to participate in a substance abuse monitoring program. In 2008 Matzek was convicted of possession and delivery of a controlled substance—marijuana with intent to deliver. In 2012 he was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance—marijuana.

Thurston County

In September 2015 the secretary of health ended probation for massage practitioner Jason Robert Griffin (MA60261274).

Yakima County

In September 2015 the Medical Commission filed a second amended statement of charges against physician Fady F. Sabry (MD00046541) to add in April 2015 he was convicted of third-degree assault and two counts of indecent liberties.

Out of State

California: In September 2015 the Pharmacy Commission charged pharmacist Teri Gilbert (PH00019595) with unprofessional conduct. Gilbert allegedly admitted diverting and/or delivering legend drugs to other employees at a hospital where she worked.

Pennsylvania: In October 2015 the Medical Commission entered an agreement with physician James McGuckin (MD00047625) that fines him $17,500. McGuckin may not perform angioplasty and stenting procedures on certain patients, must complete an ethics course, and refund fees to certain patients. He put patients’ safety at risk when he failed to meet the standard of care in performing an experimental treatment on multiple sclerosis patients. McGuckin failed to follow required protocol, and did not ensure that proper federal approval had been obtained for experimental treatment. Additionally, his documentation raised concerns about proper patient assessment and accurate procedure notes.

Note to Editors: Health care providers charged with unprofessional conduct have 20 days to respond to the Department of Health in writing. The case then enters the settlement process. If no disciplinary agreement can be reached, the case will go to a hearing.