For immediate release: February 13, 2020  (20-019)

Contact:  Sharon Moysiuk, Communications  360-549-6471 Public inquiries: Health Systems Customer Service  360-236-4700

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 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 “Look up a health care provider license” 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.

Asotin County

In January 2020 the secretary of health suspended for at least five years the mental health counselor credential of Gail A. Price (LH00008467). Price worked at an agency that receives 90 percent of its funding from Medicaid. She submitted false reimbursement forms that resulted in a loss to Medicaid of about $14,645.48. In 2018 she was convicted of first-degree theft, and of Medicaid false statement.

King County

In January 2020 the Nursing Assistant Program entered an agreement with registered nursing assistant Deka Nur Hirsi (NA00167940) that suspends her credential for at least five years. In 2018 Hirsi was sentenced on three counts of theft of public funds, and was ordered to pay more than $328,000 in restitution. Hirsi defrauded the Seattle Housing Authority for a housing subsidy, and defrauded the state Department of Social and Health Services both for a child care subsidy and for caretaking services Hirsi didn’t actually provide.

In January 2020 the Nursing Commission indefinitely suspended the licensed practical nurse credential of Rotschild Luxamar (LP60401495). Luxamar’s Florida nurse license became subject to a settlement agreement in 2018 in connection with failure to continue cardiopulmonary resuscitation on an unresponsive patient.

In January 2020 the Board of Psychology entered an agreement with psychologist Lynette Dufton Pullmann (PY60144022) that indefinitely suspends her credential. Pullmann ended a psychological relationship with a client and immediately began a romantic dating relationship with the client. Pullmann initially informed a Department of Health investigator that she had never provided psychological services to the client, and that she couldn’t produce patient records as none existed. Pullmann subsequently admitted that she had lied and that the client had been a patient, and produced patient records for the client.

In January 2020 the Chiropractic Commission entered an agreement with chiropractor Mike Tuan Dang (CH00034629) that indefinitely suspends his credential. Dang practiced for nearly three years with an expired credential.

In January 2020 the Pharmacy Commission made inoperable the pharmacy intern registration of Amir Hassan Jafari (IR60779660), who is no longer enrolled in a pharmacy program.

Pierce County

In January 2020 the Nursing Assistant Program charged certified nursing assistant Semira Ahmed Hussien (NC10029618) with unprofessional conduct and immediately suspended her credential. After finding that Hussien neglected six vulnerable adults, the state Department of Social and Health Services placed her on its long-term care abuse and neglect registry. Hussien can’t be employed in caring for or having unsupervised access to vulnerable adults.

In January 2020 the secretary of health permanently revoked the home care aide credential of Margaret Louise Loe (HM60926999), who admitted having a romantic and sexual relationship with a patient.

In January 2020 the secretary of health indefinitely suspended the certified nursing assistant credential of Sirina Teouri (NC60605553). Teouri sent her mother to impersonate her and to work her shift as a nursing assistant even though her mother has no Washington health care provider credential.

Snohomish County

In January 2020 the Pharmacy Commission indefinitely suspended the pharmacy technician and pharmacy assistant credentials of Paul Benjamin Roque (VA60617066, VB60537178), who admitted diverting controlled substances for his own use.