New Jersey Board of Nursing Temporarily Suspends Certification of Middlesex County Home Health Aide Following Her Arrest on Charges of Attempted Credit Card Fraud Involving a 91-Year- Old Woman in Her Care
NEWARK - Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the Division of Consumer Affairs today announced that the State Board of Nursing (the "Board") has temporarily suspended the certification of a Middlesex homemaker-home health aide accused of using the personal information of a 91-year-old client, in an attempt to open a line of credit in the woman's name last fall.
Alica Romancakova, 44, is charged with wrongful impersonation and attempted credit card fraud for allegedly applying online for a $12,500 line of credit using the personal information of a woman for whom she was providing in-home care.
In an Interim Consent Order with the Board, Romancakova agreed to the temporary suspension of her Certified Homemaker-Home Health Aide ("CHHA") certification pending the resolution of the criminal charges against her, at which time additional disciplinary action may be taken.
"Families who hire certified home health aides to watch over their loved ones must have assurances that the caregivers they allow into their homes are trustworthy professionals, not thieves looking for easy marks," said Attorney General Porrino. "To provide this peace of mind to families, we will continue to keep vigilant watch on our home healthcare professionals and weed out any certified home health aides who do not live up to the responsibilities and trust placed in them."
"By temporarily suspending the certification of this CHHA, the Board has taken immediate action to ensure that she will not be allowed to enter patients' homes while these very serious charges are pending," said Steve Lee, Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. "Protecting the welfare of the public is paramount, especially elderly and disabled individuals requiring in-home care."
Romancakova was arrested by North Brunswick Police on March 27 after the alleged victim reported that someone tried to open a credit card in her name.
According to the filed Consent Order, Romancakova allegedly admitted to police that she attempted to open a $12,500 line of credit using the name of the elderly woman, whom she cared for in her North Brunswick home.
Under the terms of her temporary suspension, Romancakova surrendered her CHHA certification to practice pending the disposition of the charges against her, the satisfaction of any criminal sentencing terms imposed upon her, and further order of the Board.
In the event that Romancakova seeks reinstatement of her CHHA certification she must furnish the Board with documentation of the disposition of the criminal charges against her and successful completion of any and all criminal sentencing terms, according to the Consent Order. She must also discuss with the Board her readiness to reenter practice as a homemaker-home health aide, and provide the Board with evidence that she is capable of discharging the function of a certificate holder in a manner consistent with the public's health, safety, and welfare.
Investigators with the Enforcement Bureau within the Division of Consumer Affairs conducted the investigation.
Deputy Attorney General Shirley Dickstein, of the Consumer Affairs Counseling Section of the Division of Law, represented the State in this matter.
Patients who believe that they have been treated by a licensed health care professional in an inappropriate manner can file an online complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its
website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or (973) 504- 6200.
###
