Authorities in Burbank detained a woman from Virginia for allegedly posing as a nurse at multiple hospitals in Los Angeles County.
Earlier this year, Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center employed 44-year-old Amanda Leeann Porter without realizing that she lacked a nursing license and was on federal probation for fraud. Between April 8 and May 8, Porter attended to around 60 patients before the staff discovered her deception involving a legitimate registered nurse who resided outside California, according to the Burbank Police Department.
“Providence Saint Joseph is committed to quality and safety to ensure the best possible care for our patients. As a new hire, this employee was in her orientation phase, and as such was partnered with a training nurse during the five nursing shifts she worked in our hospital,” the hospital administration stated in a release.
Porter received two paychecks before being terminated by the hospital. During their inquiry, Burbank detectives found that Porter had previously been arrested by the LA County Sheriff’s Department for a comparable offense at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Santa Clarita.
“The individual was in a probationary employment period with our organization and under the supervision of a nurse preceptor during this time. There is no indication that the quality of care provided to patients was compromised,” stated staff from Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital.
The District Attorney for LA County has charged Porter with three felonies: identity theft, false impersonation, and grand theft.
She has been arraigned and is currently being held without bail.
Detectives suspect that other hospitals in the area may have employed Porter after she allegedly used counterfeit identities.
The department encourages anyone with relevant information about similar cases in Southern California to contact their local law enforcement agency or Burbank police Detective Arias at (818) 238-3210. Investigators noted that tips can be submitted anonymously.
