Skaggs assists authorities investigating former employee

Skaggs Regional Medical Center is cooperating with authorities investigating one of the hospital's former employees who falsely identified herself as a registered nurse.

During an internal audit and biannual license renewal process in May, Skaggs officials discovered that employee Lori Aydt was missing required proof of licensure through the Missouri State Board of Nursing, according to a hospital news release.

Aydt was placed on administrative leave without pay when she was unable to produce proof of licensure, and she was terminated when the hospital learned she was not registered with the state board. Skaggs subsequently filed a formal complaint with the Branson Police Department, according to the release. Aydt, of Ridgedale, has since been charged with felony stealing and fraudulently obtaining a nursing license, a misdemeanor.

Aydt started her career at Skaggs as a graduate nurse in May 2007, and under state law, she had 90 days to become licensed through the state board - a requirement she failed to meet.

No patients were harmed nor were any complaints filed regarding Aydt's care during her employment, according to the hospital, which described the former employee's actions as "unacceptable."

Skaggs renews nursing licenses every two years, but hospital policies have been reinforced to ensure that employees who cannot provide prompt proof of license or certification are terminated. The hospital's manual renewal process was replaced in May 2009 with a computerized system called Lawson that alerts staff when employee certification is coming due, according to the release.

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