The Washington State Department of Health has been cracking down on rogue health care providers, scrubbing the medical ranks of bad actors who could harm the public. In a broad sweep, officials have either revoked or suspended the licenses, certifications, or registrations of a slew of health care professionals who stepped out of line or fell far below standards. Some of these medical practitioners also faced immediate suspension due to being blacklisted in other states, flagging them as persona non grata in the healthcare arena here in Washington.

The department's Health Systems Quality Assurance Division is the watchdog working with boards, commissions, and advisory committees to uphold standards across more than 80 healthcare professions.

Finding out if your dentist or counselor has a sketchy past has been made easier than ever by the department. A quick search on the agency's website gives anyone the power to pull up the records on health care providers. Just hit the "Health Care Provider Lookup" under the "Find it Fast" section and dig into the dirt—everything from license status to renewal dates, disciplinary smackdowns, and the legal documents issued post-July 1998. 

The Department of Health is urging consumers to come forward and report any unprofessional conduct. The information can be found at doh.wa.gov, as revealed by recent announcements.