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OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health has taken disciplinary actions or withdrawn charges against the following health care providers in our state.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

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 September 2024 the secretary of health issued chiropractor Bradley Leroy Akridge (CH00001829) a cease-and-desist order after Akridge continued to engage in the practice of chiropractic care after their license was suspended in June 2009.

In September 2024 the secretary of health charged massage therapist Joseph Taylor Moraniec (MA60629040) with unprofessional conduct. Alleged facts state that in May 2024, Moraniec was charged with indecent liberties, a class B felony, for sexual contact with a patient.

Clark County

In September 2024 the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission charged pharmacist David N. Ruark (PH00022194) with unprofessional conduct. Alleged facts state that in August 2022, Ruark was listed as the Responsible Pharmacy Manager (RPM) for a health care entity but had not worked there since July 2020. Ruark also failed to perform any of their duties, including site visits and inspections while listed as the RPM.

Cowlitz County

In September 2024 the Board of Nursing charged registered nurse Brianna Janel Williams (RN61065823) with unprofessional conduct. Alleged facts state that Williams borrowed $2,357.25 in November 2022 from a minor client's parents. Williams failed to repay the loan until the client's parents notified Williams's employer in October 2023. Williams failed to respond to the Board's request for a written response to the allegations.

Douglas County

In August 2024 the Dental Quality Assurance Commission charged dental assistant Tia Kathleen Riley (D160922562) with unprofessional conduct. Alleged facts state that in December 2023, Riley handled and wasted controlled substances without a witness as required by DEA regulations. Riley also failed to respond to February and March 2024 emails requesting information.

Franklin County

In August 2024 the secretary of health issued a cease-and-desist order to Tiffani Michelle Nelson, stating she must stop engaging in the unlicensed practice of massage therapy. From November 2022 to March 2023, Nelson booked appointments and accepted, provided, and charged money for clients to receive massage therapy services without a credential to practice massage therapy.

King County

In August 2024 the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission charged pharmacist intern Isaiah Andrew Hertzberg (IR61167732) with unprofessional conduct. Alleged facts state that in October 2023, Hertzberg failed to contact a monitoring program for Pharmacy and failed to respond to correspondence from Washington State University's College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. In February and March 2024, Hertzberg also failed to respond to a letter of cooperation.

In August 2024 the Dental Quality Assurance Commission released Jaime Jun Lee (DE00009424) from the terms and conditions of her dentist license.

In August 2024 the Dental Quality Assurance Commission terminated the probation on the dental assistant license of Leona Camelle B. Ragil (D160051733).

In August 2024 the Board of Nursing charged registered nurse Lisa Maureen Schofield (RN00078792) with unprofessional conduct. Alleged facts state that in June 2022, Respondent started a patient's infusion at the wrong rate and was unaware when another patient's continuous infusion was off. In August and September 2022, Schofield made several medication administration and documentation errors, including failing to properly chart pain assessments, failing to waste or document waste of narcotic medications, and drawing medication for patients without appropriate orders from a physician or authorized provider. Schofield failed to respond to the Board's request for information about the alleged facts.

In September 2024 the secretary of health granted Lonah Njoki (NC61572652) a license to practice as a certified nursing assistant. Njoki must continue to comply with all the conditions in the 2022 agreement. In January 2023, Njoki and the secretary of health entered an agreement to practice with conditions.

In August 2024 the Dental Quality Assurance Commission amended the statement of charges of unprofessional conduct against the dentist license and dentist general anesthesia permit of Calley Justin Christie (DE60470632, GA60614575). The amended alleged facts state that Christie's records indicate a pattern of over-sedation and insufficient responses to low oxygen saturation levels when treating patients using general anesthesia, poor documentation, improper disposal of medications, and failure to properly supervise staff. In January 2022 and June 2022, a DOH health care investigator also noted that the drug cabinet at Christie's office was not secured, noting single use vials of medications were used on multiple patients and multi-use vials of medications did not have tags or puncture dates.

Klickitat County

In September 2024 the Board of Nursing granted Krystal Rochelle Sullivan (RN61556376) a license to practice as a registered nurse. Sullivan must continue to participate in a monitoring program. In November 2023, the Oregon State Board of Nursing entered a stipulated order for probation which required Sullivan to complete 24 months of monitored practice, participate in the Board's random drug testing program and obtain a substance use disorder evaluation. The Oregon Board based its order on findings that Sullivan was impaired while working as a registered nurse.

Pacific County

In September 2024 the secretary of health terminated the probation on the substance use disorder professional trainee and agency affiliated counselor licenses of Russell Kurt Hanson (CO61265823, CG61274394).

Pierce County

In August 2024 the Dental Quality Assurance Commission terminated the probation on the dental assistant license of Dana Lou Brady (D161148170).

In September 2024 the Board of Nursing charged registered nurse Shedae Chantielle Amaro Kraus (RN60232468) with unprofessional conduct. Alleged facts state that Kraus failed to comply with her monitoring contract by testing positive on tests in May, June and July 2024, for missed tests between May and July 2024, and withdrawing from the monitoring program in August 2024.