By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
A Florida woman allegedly used a fake state nursing license to pose as a nurse and then treat patients at their homes, according to the Lake County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office. The woman is accused of treating patients at least seven times, but the sheriff’s office stated there may be more victims. The fake nurse was arrested on September 27, 2013. She faces charges of working as a nurse without a license and using a forged state document.
To read the Orlando Sentinel article, click here.
This is not the woman’s first time in trouble with law enforcement. Earlier this year she was allegedly arrested for running an unlicensed assisted living facility (ALF), according to WFTV, the ABC affiliate in Orlando, Florida.
Used Another Nurse’s License Number to Dupe Employer.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the fake nurse was hired at TLC Home Care Facilities in Leesburg, Florida, in May 2013, after presenting the forged nurse license to her employer. Part of the phony nurse’s job was to treat patients at their home, including administering blood pressure checks and dispensing medications.
An audit of TLC Home Care facilities by the Department of Health (DOH) uncovered that the phony nurse was allegedly using the same nursing license number as a woman with a similar name. The legitimate nurse actually works at St. Petersburg General Hospital.
Fake Nurse Previously Arrested for Similar Charges.
In December 2012, the same woman was arrested for scheming to defraud and criminal use of personal information, according to WFTV.
Then in March 2013, the Florida Attorney General’s (AG) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) arrested her again for running an unlicensed ALF. According to WFTV, the woman billed residents for more than $55,000 worth of services in spite of the fact she was operating a facility without a state-required license.
Click here to watch WFTV’s report.
More Stories on Fake Physicians and Other Fraudulent Professionals to Come.
In the near future on this blog we will include additional articles on fake doctors and health professionals.
To see a recent blog a fake Florida pharmacist sentenced to prison, click here. To read a blog on a phony dentist in Miami, click here. You can also read the blog on a fake plastic surgeon in New York by clicking here.
Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced in Representing Nurses.
The Health Law Firm’s attorneys routinely represent nurses in Department of Health (DOH) investigations, in appearances before the Board of Nursing in licensing matters and in many other legal matters. We represent nurses across the U.S., and throughout Florida.
To contact The Health Law Firm please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.
Comments?
Do you think it is too easy to forge a health care professional’s license? Should the home health facility be punished for not doing a thorough background check? Please leave any thoughtful comments below.
Sources:
Comas, Martin. “Woman Used Forged Documents to Work as a Nurse, Deputies Say.” Orlando Sentinel. (September 27, 2013). From: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-woman-assumed-nurse-identity-20130927,0,395526.story
Hughes, Ryan. “Deputies: Woman Pretending to be Nurse has been in Trouble Before.” WFTV. (September 27, 2013). From: http://www.wftv.com/videos/news/deputies-woman-pretending-to-be-nurse-has-been-in/vCDXSX/
About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.
“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of George F. Indest III, P.A. – The Health Law Firm, a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
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