Unlicensed individual posing as a nurse apprehended following treatment of more than 4,000 patients: Sheriff's announcement
In a concerning turn of events, Autumn Marie Bardisa, a 29-year-old woman, was recently arrested in Florida for posing as a registered nurse and treating over 4,000 patients without a valid nursing license. The hospital terminated Bardisa on January 22, 20XX, and initiated an investigation that led to the involvement of the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.
Bardisa claimed to have passed her nursing exams and provided a license number. However, the number did not match any registered nurse. She was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and is being held on a $70,000 bond. The details of her current status are not provided in the article.
This incident is one of several similar cases of medical fraud that have occurred recently. In Pennsylvania, for instance, Shannon Nicole Womack used about 20 aliases and seven Social Security numbers to impersonate four different nurses across multiple rehabilitation and nursing home facilities since 2020. She was charged with multiple counts including falsely pretending to hold a license and identity theft.
Autumn Bardisa's case is particularly disturbing. Officials found that she stole the license from a different hospital employee who attended school with Bardisa, but the two did not personally know each other. Sheriff Rick Staly stated that this case is one of the most disturbing cases of medical fraud the office has ever investigated.
Hospitals and regulatory bodies have procedures to verify nurse credentials, but these incidents highlight vulnerabilities that can occasionally be exploited, sometimes for many months or years before detection. The investigation was triggered after the hospital discovered that Bardisa had never provided her marriage license as requested.
It is not immediately clear whether Bardisa has an attorney who can speak on her behalf. She was employed as an advanced nurse technician at a local hospital from July 2023 until her termination on January 22, 20XX. When offered a promotion, a fellow employee checked Bardisa's license's status and discovered an expired certified nursing assistant license.
While these cases are alarming due to the scale and duration of fraud, such impersonations remain comparatively uncommon relative to the total number of nurses and healthcare staff across the country. They attract significant media and law enforcement attention when uncovered because of the risks posed to patient safety and trust.
The investigation into Autumn Bardisa's case is ongoing, and no further details about the investigation or her current status are provided in the article. Jail records do not indicate Bardisa's next court appearance.
[1] Pennsylvania Nurse Arrested for Impersonating Four Nurses
[2] Florida Woman Arrested for Impersonating Nurse
[3] Flagler County Sheriff's Office Investigates Medical Fraud Case
[4] Sheriff Rick Staly: Medical Fraud Case One of the Most Disturbing Ever Investigated
[1] The Pennsylvania Nurse Arrested for Impersonating Four Nurses highlights a concerning case of medical fraud, as Shannon Nicole Womack used multiple aliases and identities to pose as four different nurses across various facilities since 2020.
[2] The Florida Woman Arrested for Impersonating Nurse, Autumn Marie Bardisa, is under investigation for treating over 4,000 patients without a valid nursing license, a case that Sheriff Rick Staly deemed one of the most disturbing ever investigated by his office.
[3] The Flagler County Sheriff's Office Investigates Medical Fraud Case, in this instance, involves Autumn Bardisa, who posed as a registered nurse and worked at a local hospital until her termination in January 20XX.
[4] Sheriff Rick Staly: Medical Fraud Case One of the Most Disturbing Ever Investigated, refers to Autumn Bardisa, who is accused of stealing a license from a hospital employee and treating patients for months without any medical qualifications.
