Fake Nursing and Educational Credentials Enabled Missouri Man to Work in Three Nursing Homes
A Missouri man, who is already in prison on a bad check and attempted robbery charge, has been sentenced to serve another five years in a federal facility. The 37-year-old man pleaded guilty in March to healthcare fraud, aggravated identity theft, and Social Security fraud.
To perpetrate his deception, the man used a Texas nurse’s name when he applied for a job with a healthcare staffing company. Along with the nurse’s identity theft, he claimed previous work experience at a hospital that had not been operating for four years before the fraudster supposedly worked there.
The staffing company first placed the man at a nursing home where he cared for Medicare residents and then at a rehabilitation facility. However, five days after the second placement, the staffing company terminated his employment when he tested positive for amphetamines. Two days after his termination with the staffing company, the man was hired as the director of nursing for another nursing home.
The man’s deception continued until the nursing home was contacted by an investigator with the Texas Board of Nursing about his fraudulent use of the credentials of the Texas nurse.
Not only did the man gain employment as a nurse using a stolen identity and nursing credentials, he obtained credit card accounts, secured a car loan, got a passport, driver’s license, and opened a bank account. Although in prison, he still faces other criminal charges.
Compliance Perspective
Failure by a healthcare staffing company and a nursing home to verify the nursing credentials and employment history of an applicant before allowing the individual to begin working violates state and federal mandatory screening requirements.
Discussion Points:
- Review policies and procedures regarding checking the background, licensure, certification, and employment history of potential employees and conducting periodic follow-up checks of employees.
- Train staff involved in the hiring process on the policies and procedures for performing background, licensure, certification, and employment history checks for potential employees. Remind all staff of their responsibility to immediately report to their supervisor or the Hotline their concerns that another staff member may be using a false identity, participating in other criminal activities, or demonstrating substandard performance.
- Periodically audit the licensure, certification, and criminal background status of nursing staff.
