The Health Systems Quality Assurance Division of the state Department of Health recently took disciplinary actions or has withdrawn charges against these Clark County health care providers.
In September, the secretary of health denied an agency-affiliated counselor credential to Melissa D. Boyd. Between 2014 and 2016, Boyd was convicted of two felonies, five gross misdemeanors and one misdemeanor. She didn’t supply proof of having completed a required substance use evaluation.
In October, the Optometry Board indefinitely suspended the optometrist credential of Shelby Wickhorst. Wickhorst didn’t furnish patients with glasses and contact lenses he had agreed to provide, in one instance after accepting $400 from a patient. He wasn’t present for a scheduled appointment with a patient, had a full voice mailbox or didn’t respond when patients called to schedule appointments, and didn’t respond to a Department of Health investigator’s inquiry. The property manager for Wickhorst’s office told an investigator the optometrist is in “major default” for past rent, and has apparently closed his business.
In October, the secretary of health ended conditions on the chemical dependency professional trainee credential of Adrian Vincent Hernandez.
In October, the Certified Behavior Technician Program entered an agreement with certified behavior technician Sean Tomokichi Saito under which he surrendered his credential. In 2018, Saito was convicted of three counts of first-degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
In October, the Medical Commission entered an agreement with physician Chester C. Hu that fines him $5,000 and places conditions on his practice. Hu must complete a compliance orientation, make personal appearances, and adhere to guidelines for monitoring and managing sedation procedures for pediatric dental patients. He must submit to practice reviews, follow pre-anesthesia and recovery procedures, and see that support personnel conform to the standard of care. The physician must write and present a scholarly paper about anesthesia and sedation risks. Hu administered anesthetic to a 4-year-old boy with developmental delays. The boy developed complications and died after a dental procedure. Hu didn’t make use of appropriate monitoring equipment, and didn’t assign an appropriately trained and credentialed person to continuously monitor the patient. Hu’s failure to meet the standard of care put the patient at grievous risk of harm and contributed to his death.
If you have questions about this report, contact Health Systems Quality Assurance Division at 360-236-4700.
