Fake Hospital Inspectors Probed | WP | 4.22.05
FBI Investigates Incidents at Facilities in Boston, Detroit, L.A.
The FBI and other law enforcement agencies are looking into incidents in which people masquerading as unannounced inspectors were found poking around three hospitals in Boston, Detroit and Los Angeles.
In each case the impostors were stopped by security guards or hospital staff, and then either left or were expelled. No one has been arrested, and neither the identity of the intruders nor their motives are known.
“There is no working hypothesis. It could be any number of things, from identity theft to something more nefarious,” an FBI spokesman, who declined to be named, said yesterday. …
In the first, a well-dressed man and woman were stopped by a security guard at a Los Angeles hospital about 2 a.m. They showed badges similar to those issued by JCAHO and asked to be let in. When the guard asked for more identification, they retreated, saying they were at the wrong hospital. …
JCAHO surveyors go to about 1,700 hospitals a year, with about 300 of the visits unannounced. Only a few are done outside usual work hours, and those are usually to investigate complaints made about specific night-shift activities.
In response to the three incidents, the organization said that all unannounced surveyors will now carry a letter signed by its executive vice president. …
I suspect there are thousands of hospital staff across the nation with just a twinkle in their eye over this story.
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…or something in their pants. I'm decidedly unhappy about unknowns wandering the joint at 0200. Best case: plaintiffs' attorneys. Worst case: terrorists, domestic or otherwise.
Like the 'live preview' by the way. Very cool.
…or something in their pants. I’m decidedly unhappy about unknowns wandering the joint at 0200. Best case: plaintiffs’ attorneys. Worst case: terrorists, domestic or otherwise.
Like the ‘live preview’ by the way. Very cool.