Norfolk, Va.-based Sentara Healthcare is warning patients of possible imposters and scammers after a Sentara Home Care patient reported a woman posing as a Sentara nurse gained access to her home.
In an emailed statement to Becker's Hospital Review, the system said the Norfolk patient reported a woman claiming to be a Sentara nurse asked to "come by [her home] for 15 minutes."
The woman, who was not wearing an official Sentara ID badge, ended up at the door of the patient's home shortly after the call and was allowed in by one of the patient's relatives.
According to Sentara, the woman posing as a nurse "approached the patient's bedside while the patient was on the phone with a Sentara physical therapist, who was making arrangements for a visit. The physical therapist asked to speak with the so-called nurse, who took the phone, listened briefly, and then said she had to retrieve something from her car. She then left the house and did not return."
The patient has identified the woman posing as a nurse as an African-American woman with short hair in a bob cut, glasses and a dark blue shirt with an embroidered Sentara logo on it.
The system confirmed that this is not the first time an incident like this has occurred.
Sentara spokesperson Dale Gauding told Becker's Hospital Review: "We've had a pair of pushy women claiming to be with Sentara Home Care showing up to people's homes unannounced. While one asks for tea and occupies the homeowner, the other goes around and pockets things of value.
"We're also getting phone scammers calling people, claiming to be with Sentara, and offering lower credit card interest rates if people supply their credit card information over the phone. Our biggest concern is that a home care patient or family member will catch onto an imposter and confront her and get hurt."
Sentara said its home care employees wear hard plastic photo identification badges that include the provider's name and job title. The system urged patients and families to ensure the provider is wearing the correct badge before providing access to their home.
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