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Authorities warn of imposter surveyors

Quality Improvement Monitor, March 17, 2005

Individuals posing as JCAHO surveyors have entered three U.S. hospitals in the past three weeks, prompting law enforcement officials to issue an alert to healthcare organizations.

The New Jersey Office of Counter-Terrorism issued an advisory March 10, telling hospitals to be aware of imposter surveyors and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.

Hospitals in Los Angeles, Boston, and Detroit have all reported men and women entering their facilities and identifying themselves as JCAHO surveyors. In all three cases, the individuals fled when staff questioned them, authorities said.

A white male and white female entered a hospital in Los Angeles on February 26 wearing what a security guard said were identification badges similar to what JCAHO surveyors wear.

A man of Asian descent entered a Boston hospital on March 3 demanding to inspect the facility, and a white female accessed a Detroit hospital on March 10 through the maternity ward and began wandering through the building.

Reports have said terrorists might attempt to attack the U.S. healthcare system to disrupt care and emergency services, according to the New Jersey attorney general's office.

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