For immediate release: June 16, 2020  (20-104)

Contact:  Sharon Moysiuk, Communications  360-549-6471 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OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health has taken disciplinary actions or withdrawn charges against health care providers in our state.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., 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 “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.

Clark County

In April 2020 the secretary of health denied a certified nursing assistant credential to Joshua Robert Higdon (NC60987198). In 2013 and again in 2018 Higdon was convicted of driving under the influence. Higdon didn’t furnish proof of having undergone a required substance use evaluation.

Island County

In May 2020 the secretary of health dismissed a statement of charges against midwife Crystal Amaryllis Ogle (MW60452672).

Jefferson County

In May 2020 the Mental Health Counselor Program charged mental health counselor Pamela Bolin Street (LH00006948) with unprofessional conduct. The mental health counselor allegedly didn’t respond to an investigator’s inquiry about a complaint lodged against her.

King County

In April 2020 the Medical Assistant Program charged certified medical assistant Fawn Lynnette Sterling (CM60381552) with unprofessional conduct. Sterling allegedly practiced for about a year without an active license.

In May 2020 the Unlicensed Practice Program notified Lawrence David Nicholas of its intent to issue a cease-and-desist order. Nicholas allegedly represented himself as a licensed mental health counselor associate some five years after his license in that profession expired.

In May 2020 the Dental Commission charged dentist and dentist moderate sedation with parenteral agents permittee Jonathan C. Su (DE00008460, CS60283726) with unprofessional conduct. Charges say Su isn’t licensed as a veterinarian, but misrepresented himself as a veterinarian to prescribe and get prescriptions for his own dog. Su’s dental practice allegedly submitted insurance claims for services the named provider didn’t perform, and received reimbursement it otherwise would have been ineligible to receive. Su allegedly didn’t correct the claims or associated billing records.

In May 2020 the Unlicensed Practice Program notified Yan Wang of its intent to issue a cease-and-desist order. Wang allegedly performed massage therapy without a license.

In June 2020 the Respiratory Care Practitioner Program charged respiratory care practitioner Jennifer Buchan (LR00002478) with unprofessional conduct. The respiratory care practitioner allegedly didn’t comply with a substance abuse monitoring contract.

In June 2020 the Massage Therapist Program charged massage therapist Susana M. Rodley (MA60304110) with unprofessional conduct. Rodley allegedly didn’t respond to Department of Health inquiries involving continuing education and her contact information.

In May 2020 the Dental Commission charged dentist Luke Edward St. Marie (DE60576836) with unprofessional conduct. St. Marie allegedly wrote prescriptions outside of a provider-patient relationship, didn’t adequately document prescriptions, rewrote an altered prescription, didn’t report that his prescription pad may have been compromised, and didn’t take adequate steps to ensure all prescriptions issued under his authority were valid. The dentist allegedly didn’t comply with a substance abuse monitoring program’s recommendations.

Kitsap County

In May 2020 the Chiropractic Commission entered an agreement with chiropractor Blake J. Wagner (CH00003095) that requires him to participate in a substance abuse monitoring program. Wagner’s license expired in 2014. In 2016 he applied to reactivate it. In 2016 Wagner was convicted on two counts of driving under the influence. In 2017 he was convicted of felony driving under the influence, second-degree driving while license suspended or revoked, operation of a motor vehicle without ignition interlock device, and making a false or misleading statement to a public servant.