An unprecedented case of medical fraud in Florida exposes alarming gaps in hospital oversight.

Story Snapshot

• A Florida woman treated over 4,400 patients at a major hospital using a stolen nurse’s license before being arrested.
• The fraud went undetected for 18 months due to failures in healthcare credential verification and hospital oversight.
• Law enforcement calls this one of the most serious breaches of patient trust and safety in recent memory.
• The case highlights systemic vulnerabilities that threaten public safety and demand stricter institutional accountability.

Massive Credential Fraud at Florida Hospital Threatens Patient Safety

Autumn Bardisa, a 29-year-old resident of Palm Coast, Florida, was arrested after authorities discovered she had impersonated a registered nurse at AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway Hospital for 18 months. Using another nurse’s license and fabricated documents, Bardisa secured employment and conducted medical procedures, ultimately treating more than 4,400 unsuspecting patients. This brazen fraud not only put thousands at risk but also revealed serious inadequacies in the hospital’s hiring and verification systems. The breach was uncovered only during a review for an internal promotion, not through routine safeguards.

Florida woman arrested after posing as nurse and treating more than 4,000 patients…

Hired in July 2023 as an advanced nurse tech, her alleged fraud went undetected until January 2025, when a promotion prompted scrutiny. pic.twitter.com/qA44zAc7xF

— Rifnote (@viarifnote) August 7, 2025

After Bardisa’s credentials were questioned, an internal investigation exposed that she had never held a valid nursing license. She initially claimed her credentials matched due to a recent marriage, but failed to provide supporting documentation. By the time the fraud was detected in January 2025, Bardisa had already impacted thousands, underscoring a critical breakdown in procedures meant to protect patients. Law enforcement launched a multi-agency investigation, involving local, state, and federal authorities, reflecting the seriousness of the threat and the need for coordinated action against such abuses.

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Systemic Oversight Failures and Stakeholder Response

AdventHealth, a major hospital in Flagler County, finds itself at the center of scrutiny. The institution’s reliance on credential verification systems proved grossly insufficient, as Bardisa exploited process gaps with relative ease. Hospital administration, responsible for both hiring and oversight, failed to detect inconsistencies for a year and a half. Law enforcement and regulatory agencies eventually intervened, with the Flagler County Sheriff expressing deep concern over the scale of the breach and its implications for patient safety and public trust.

Bardisa’s actions also victimized the legitimate nurse whose identity and license number were stolen. The nurse, who worked at a different AdventHealth facility, now faces the daunting task of defending her professional reputation amid the fallout. The broader Flagler County community, along with thousands of potentially affected patients, is left questioning the reliability of hospital employment practices. This incident is not isolated, but the sheer number of patients and duration make it especially egregious, prompting calls for deeper institutional reform and transparency.

Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation

On August 5, 2025, after a seven-month investigation, Bardisa was arrested at her home and charged with multiple felonies, including seven counts each of practicing without a license and the fraudulent use of personal identification. She is being held on a $70,000 bond, with arraignment scheduled for September 2, 2025. Law enforcement officials have described this as one of the most disturbing cases of medical fraud they have ever encountered, emphasizing its impact on thousands of patients.

This case has triggered a comprehensive review of hiring and credentialing procedures at AdventHealth and may influence broader industry reforms. The failure to detect such a significant fraud for so long has eroded public trust in the healthcare system, with calls for increased transparency, better background checks, and more robust verification protocols.

Sources:

Woman charged after allegedly treating thousands of people as fake nurse
Florida nurse impersonator Autumn Bardisa treated thousands at Palm Coast hospital, police say
Fake Nurse Autumn Bardisa: Treated Over 4,400 Patients Without a License
FCSO Arrests Palm Coast Woman for Posing as a Registered Nurse and Treating Over 4,400 Patients Without a License