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

OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health has revoked or suspended the licenses, certifications, or registrations of the following 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., 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’s 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 also encouraged to call and report their complaint.

Cowlitz County

In April 2024 the secretary of health indefinitely suspended the certified nursing assistant license of Christopher James Smith (NC60365769). Prior to petitioning for reinstatement, Smith must contact a monitoring program and, if required, enroll in the monitoring program. In July 2022, Smith tested positive for methamphetamines, methadone, and fentanyl on a drug test submitted to his employer.

Grays Harbor County

In April 2024 the secretary of health indefinitely suspended the registered nursing assistant license of Tammy Lee Thompson (NA61013071). Prior to petitioning for reinstatement, Thompson must pay a $250 fine and complete six hours of continuing education in the areas of boundaries and law and ethics. In February 2023, Thompson worked while her license was expired and cashed checks from patients for personal use.

King County

In March 2024 the Board of Nursing (formerly the Nursing Commission) indefinitely suspended the registered nurse license of Crista Lynn Niles (RN60959508). Prior to petitioning for reinstatement, Niles must complete 48 hours of continuing education in the areas of managing stress; medical errors and how to avoid them; patient advocacy and ethical nursing practice; and documentation. In February 2023, Niles failed to ensure accurate medication administration and/or documentation for multiple patients. Niles failed to provide a written statement to the Board.

Kitsap County

In April 2024 the secretary of health summarily suspended the certified nursing assistant license of Angie M. Kelley (NC10063118) pending further legal action. In February 2024, Kelley was placed on the Department of Social and Health Services’ Adult Protective Services long-term care, abuse and neglect registry and is prohibited from being employed in the care of or having unsupervised access to vulnerable adults.

Pierce County

In April 2024 the secretary of health and John L. Casteele (CP00002471, LF00001490, LH00006610) agreed to the surrender of his marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, and substance use disorder professional licenses. Casteele agreed to never resume the practice of marriage and family therapy, mental health counselor, and substance use disorder professional in Washington state. From October 2020 through 2021, Casteele, the administrator of his behavior health clinic, allegedly failed to properly supervise operations and staff, which created an unreasonable risk of harm to patients, domestic violence victims, and the public. Casteele allowed unlicensed staff to provide treatment, instructed staff to falsify reports, and failed to ensure the substance use disorder program regulations were met.

Snohomish County

In April 2024 the Dental Quality Assurance Commission and Shuichi Yamaguchi (D360669137, DE00007482) agreed to the surrender of his dentist and dentist license moderate sedation permit. Yamaguchi agreed to never resume the practice of dentistry or moderate sedation in dentistry in Washington state. Yamaguchi failed to provide safe anesthesia in the office setting, had insufficient clinical treatment records for a patient, and allowed an employee to assist with a procedure when the assistant’s dental assistant credential was expired.

Spokane County

In April 2024 the secretary of health indefinitely suspended the certified nursing assistant license of Margaret Virginia Kavanaugh (NC10094266). Kavanaugh failed to comply with the terms and conditions of a 2021 agreed order on reinstatement by failing to complete a five-year monitoring program.