Florida Department of Health Issues Nine Emergency Suspension Orders (posted: 07/14/11)

Source: Florida Department of Health
Contact: Jennifer Hirst, DOH Office of Communications

- Action taken against licenses of eight practitioners and one pharmacy -

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Health (DOH) today announced the Emergency Suspension Orders (ESO) of eight Florida practitioners and one pharmacy. The ESOs immediately suspend the practitioners' licenses, as well as the pharmacy’s license, to practice in Florida.

“The Florida Department of Health will continue to protect our citizens and visitors from practitioners and pharmacies that break the law,” stated the State Surgeon General Dr. Frank Farmer. “We must remain vigilant in using appropriate disciplinary tools, such as the Emergency Suspension Orders, to safeguard public health.”

Over the past week the following ESOs were filed:

• Coral West Pharmacy Inc. d/b/a Westchester Pharmacy, Miami. Coral West Pharmacy violated Section 465.016(1)(1), Florida Statutes, by placing in its stock, parts of prescriptions compounded or dispensed which were returned by patients; Section 456.072(1)(m), Florida

Statutes, for making deceptive, untrue or fraudulent representations, in or related to the practice of a profession, or employing a trick or scheme, in or related to, the practice of a profession; Section 456.072(1)(m), Florida Statutes, by fraudulently billing the Medicaid Program for filling prescriptions it did not actually fill; and Section 499.005, Florida Statutes, by purchasing and holding prescription drugs that were adulterated and by failing to have pedigree papers for prescription drugs in its inventory. By violating Section 499.005, Florida Statutes, Coral West also violated Section 465.023(1)(c), Florida Statutes.

· Gerardo Parra, Registered Pharmacy Technician, Miami. Parra violated Section 456.072(1)(m), Florida Statutes, by fraudulently billing the Medicaid Program for filling prescriptions Coral West Pharmacy Inc. did not actually fill; violated Section 456.072(1)(n), Florida Statutes, by influencing customers of Coral West Pharmacy Inc. to sell prescriptions to the Pharmacy for his or the Pharmacy's financial gain. By violating Section 456.072(1)(m), Florida Statutes, Parra also violated Section 465.016(1)(r), Florida Statutes.

1).  Rene De Los Rios, Medical Doctor, Miami. De Los Rios was found guilty by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division, on one Count of Conspiracy to Commit Healthcare Fraud, in violation of Title 18 United States Code Section 1349, and Counts Two-Five for Submission of False Claims, in violation of Title 18 United States Code Section 287.

2).  Jeffrey Harris, Licensed Practical Nurse, St. Petersburg. Harris violated Section 464.018(1)(o), Florida Statutes, by engaging or attempting to engage in sexual misconduct as defined and prohibited by Section 464.017, Florida Statutes.

3).  Heather E. Houck, Medical Doctor, West Palm Beach. Houck entered a plea of guilty to one count of violating Section 893.13(8)(a)3, Florida Statutes, by knowingly writing a prescription for a controlled substance for a fictitious person and one count of violating Section 893.13(6)(a), Florida Statutes, by possessing a Schedule III controlled substance commonly known as hydrocodone.

4).  Laura Ann Stungis, Registered Nurse, Gainesville. Stungis violated Section 456.072(1)(hh), Florida Statutes, by being terminated from a treatment program for impaired practitioners, which is overseen by an impaired practitioner consultant as described in Section 456.076, Florida Statutes, for failure to comply, without good cause, with the terms of the monitoring or treatment contract entered into by the licensee or for not successfully completing any drug treatment or alcohol treatment program and violated Section 464.018(1)0), Florida Statutes, by being unable to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness or use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, or chemicals or any other type of material or as a result of any mental or physical condition.

5).  Lataurus Denise Green, Certified Nursing Assistant, Sebring. Green entered a plea of nolo contendere to one count of the criminal use of Personal Identification Information under Section 817.568(2)(a), Florida Statutes.

6).  Evette M. Scierka, Certified Nursing Assistant, Venice. Scierka entered a plea of nolo contendere to and was convicted of two counts of Possession of Controlled Substance, violating Section 893.13, Florida Statutes.

7). Christine A. Canfield Petrosky, Licensed Practical Nurse, Debary. Petrosky violated Section 464.018(1)(i), Florida Statutes, by engaging or attempting to engage in the possession, sale or distribution of controlled substances as set forth in Chapter 893, Florida Statutes, for any other than legitimate purposes authorized by Part I, Chapter 464, Florida Statutes and violated Section 464.018(1)(j), Florida Statutes, by being unable to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness or use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, or chemicals or any other type of material or as a result of any mental or physical condition.


Emergency suspension or restriction orders are not considered final agency action but are imposed as specified by section 456.074, Florida Statutes, for serious violations relating to the commission of crimes, standard of care, drug use, or for student loan defaults. The subject is entitled to a hearing before final action is taken by a regulatory board or by DOH.

View the Emergency Suspension Orders on DOH’s Online Newsroom at http://newsroom.doh.state.fl.us/category/healthcare-licensing/.

Consumers are encouraged to visit DOH’s website at www.flhealthsource.com to file an anonymous complaint either online or by postal mail. The website also provides the ability to view license information of Florida’s health care practitioners. Consumers may also call 1-877-HALT-ULS or 1-877-425-8852