Gainesville police have arrested a hospice nurse they say forged nearly 50 patient prescriptions, allowing her to collect more than $75,000 in narcotics.
Roseanne Brandsma, 53, of Murrayville, faces 48 counts of unauthorized distribution of controlled substances and 48 counts of computer forgery. Cpl. Jessica Van said a citizeen spotted Brandsma at a Gainesville bank Friday during the lunch hour and called police.
Brandsma is accused of falsifying over 48 prescriptions while providing hospice care to patients in Gainesville. Police don’t know if Brandsma illegally obtained these narcotics to sell or if they were for personal use.
“It is unknown at this time where Brandsma is practicing as a nurse, but records indicate her license is still active,” Police Chief Jay Parrish said in a news release. “This is why it is important that she is taken into custody to answer for these crimes.
The investigation began in December when investigators were notified of a prescription fraud that took place over seven months in 2017. Kindred Hospice reported a registered nurse it previously employed was forging prescriptions while caring for patients. The investigation revealed Brandsma used the Kindred Hospice computer system to falsify prescriptions, deleting them once they were filled.
Parrish said the case was important to the department as it aids in the fight against opioid abuse.
“As an agency that supports the fight against the opioid crisis, we want to bring awareness to these types of crimes that are occurring where you least expect them,” he said. “To find out a professional, who is trusted to care for members in our community, is responsible for contributing to our opioid crisis is absolutely disheartening.”
The case remains under investigation. Police ask that anyone who has information about the alleged crimes call the Criminal Investigations Division at 770-534-5252.
