Oxford, N.C.-based Granville Health System has fired a woman who was hired using a fake name and has been accused of defrauding medical facilities, NBC affiliate WRAL reported Jan. 15.
The health system confirmed the situation in a statement shared with Becker's, saying Jenine Ellis was hired as a sonographer on Oct. 2 using an "assumed identity."
"Granville Health System followed its standard policies and procedures during the hiring process, including performing a background check," the health system said. "Ms. Ellis was separated from employment effective Oct. 17, 2023, and reported to law enforcement. Insofar as all other personnel information is, by law, confidential, all other questions regarding Ms. Ellis should be directed to law enforcement authorities."
Becker's has reached out to the Granville County Sheriff's Office for the status of Ms. Ellis' case and will update this story if more information becomes available.
On Jan. 15, WRAL attempted to reach Ms. Ellis but did not hear back.
Granville Health System did not provide further information, including how many patients interacted with Ms. Ellis. However, Becker's will update this story if more information becomes available.
"At Granville Health System, we are dedicated to patient care of the highest quality," the health system said. "All patient scans are reviewed by a licensed physician and neither Ms. Ellis, nor any sonographer, is responsible for medical diagnosis. To ensure the accuracy and excellence of our care, we performed an additional review of all images taken by Ms. Ellis in her brief time with Granville Health System. No issues were found."
Ms. Ellis also used a fake identity to get a job working at UNC Health Southeastern in Lumberton, N.C., part of Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health, WRAL reported.
UNC Health Southeastern shared a statement with Becker's about the issue, saying Ms. Ellis was a contracted employee hired through a staffing agency.
"We were reliant upon this agency to verify professional credentials per our contractual agreement," UNC Health Southeastern said. "When we contract with outside agencies for staffing, it is our expectation that the individual meets standards and requirements appropriate for the position for which they are contracted."
UNC Health Southeastern also said Ms. Ellis was a registered sonographer "before losing her credentials due to actions not related to her profession. For any patients with which she interacted, we reviewed their records carefully to ensure there were no issues related to quality and no irregularities were discovered. For all scans performed, a physician was responsible for final evaluation of medical information, therefore, she was not responsible for any medical diagnosis.
"As soon as the alleged misrepresentation was discovered, we contacted the agency through which the individual was contracted and immediately terminated her association with our health system."
According to CBS affiliate WNCN, Ms. Ellis has faced various charges, ranging from identity theft to fraud, dating to 2008, and also over the last decade was hired to work at ECU Health (formerly called Halifax Regional Medical Center), and Duke University Hospital, both in North Carolina.
As of Jan. 17, a certification for Jenine Ellis is not listed on the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography website.