State Disciplines Health Care Providers for Misconduct

WA DOH Newsroom & Disciplinary Actions

Filed February 23rd, 2026

Detected February 24th, 2026

Summary

The Washington State Department of Health has disciplined six healthcare providers for misconduct and substance use. Actions include denial of applications, charges of unprofessional conduct, and agreed orders to cease practice, with one provider fined $500.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

The Washington State Department of Health has issued disciplinary actions against six healthcare providers in February 2026. These actions include denying applications for home care aide credentials due to placement on abuse registries or failure to respond to inquiries, charging a registered nursing assistant with unprofessional conduct including alleged sexual misconduct, granting a certified nursing assistant credential subject to probation, charging a substance use disorder professional with unprofessional conduct after admitting to controlled substance use and testing positive, and issuing an agreed order for a massage therapist to permanently cease practice without a credential, accompanied by a $500 fine.

These actions highlight the department's ongoing enforcement of professional conduct standards for healthcare providers. Regulated entities, particularly healthcare providers, should review these cases to understand the types of misconduct that can lead to disciplinary actions, including license denial, probation, practice restrictions, and fines. While specific compliance deadlines are not provided for these individual cases, providers are reminded that adherence to licensing standards and professional conduct is mandatory. Non-compliance can result in severe penalties, including the inability to practice and financial sanctions.

What to do next

Review disciplinary actions taken by the Washington State Department of Health against healthcare providers.
Ensure all staff are aware of professional conduct standards and reporting requirements.
Verify all credentials and licensing requirements are up-to-date and in compliance.

Penalties

$500 fine for one provider; other actions include license denial, probation, and cease and desist orders.

Source document (simplified)

State disciplines health care providers (02-23-2026)

For immediate release: February 23, 2026 (26-027)

Contact: DOH Communications
Public inquiries: Health Systems Customer Service 360-236-4700

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, nursing assistants, counselors).

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 January 2026 the Department of Health denied Lyndi May Kruse’s (HM61113343) application for a home care aide credential. In June 2025, Kruse was placed on the Department of Social and Health Services’ long-term care abuse and neglect registry, which disqualifies her from working with vulnerable adults and from being certified or maintaining certification as a home care aide.

King County

In February 2026 the Department of Health charged registered nursing assistant Juliano Stuart Mhina (NA61513884) with unprofessional conduct. In May 2025, Mhina allegedly engaged in inappropriate conduct toward multiple patients, including sexual misconduct.

In February 2026 the Department of Health granted Marie Noel’s (NC61566299) application for a certified nursing assistant credential, subject to probation and conditions for at least 5 years.

In February 2026 the Department of Health charged substance use disorder professional Iris Spring Sepe (CP60313152) with unprofessional conduct. In November 2024, Sepe admitted using a controlled substance to law enforcement. A few days later, Sepe tested positive for a different controlled substance on an employer-requested drug test and was terminated.

Klickitat County

In January 2026 the Department of Health and Diana Adams entered an agreed order requiring Adams to permanently cease and desist from practicing massage therapy unless she first obtains the required credential or qualifies for an exception. Between January 2022 and June 2025, Adams advertised and offered massage and reflexology services through her business and displayed on her booking website that she had 13 years of experience as a massage therapist. Adams must pay a $500 fine within six months.

Spokane County

In December 2025 the Department of Health denied Vikki L. Grub’s (HM61553347) application for a home care aide credential. In April 2025, Grub accepted a $2,000 check from a client. In May 2025, Grub gave the client a $2,000 check with “Return a gift she gave me” written on its memo line. Grub did not respond to the department’s request for information.

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.

Our website is your source for a healthy dose of information. Get updates by following us on social media.