'I felt violated': Patients learn woman used fake name to get hired at Granville hospital

In October 2023, Caldwell felt a lump and immediately went to get checked out. However, in the examination room at Granville Health System in Oxford, something felt off when he had a sonogram.

“I had a very uneasy feeling, at the table, when she was performing the ultrasound,” Caldwell said.

Four months later, a letter arrived in his mailbox and he found out why.

“I felt very violated,” Caldwell said.

The woman who performed Caldwell’s procedure was a woman named Jenine Ellis, who had gotten the job under an “assumed identity,” according to Granville Health System.

For years, Ellis has faced accusations of defrauding medical facilities.

Granville Health System sent out a letter saying Ellis used a fake name and credentials to get hired as a sonographer.

The medical center released a statement about it.

"Jenine Ellis was hired by Granville Health System as a sonographer on Oct. 2, 2023, using an assumed identity,” the statement reads. “Granville Health System followed its standard policies and procedures during the hiring process, including performing a background check.

“Ms. Ellis was separated from employment effective Oct. 17, 2023, and reported to law enforcement. Insofar as all other personnel information is, by law, confidential, all other questions regarding Ms. Ellis should be directed to law enforcement authorities.”

Granville Health System said as soon as Ellis was fired, they referred her case to the Granville County Sheriff's Office. WRAL News checked with the sheriff’s office for the status of Ellis’ case and is waiting to hear back.

On Monday, WRAL News also tried reaching out to Ellis but did not hear back.

Granville Health System’s statement did not say how many patients interacted with Ellis.

“At Granville Health System, we are dedicated to patient care of the highest quality,” Granville Health System wrote. “All patient scans are reviewed by a licensed physician and neither Ms. Ellis, nor any sonographer, is responsible for medical diagnosis.

“To ensure the accuracy and excellence of our care, we performed an additional review of all images taken by Ms. Ellis in her brief time with Granville Health System. No issues were found."

It isn’t the first time Ellis has used an assumed identity. Ellis has previously gotten jobs with other health systems, including UNC Health, using the same ploy.

“As soon as the alleged misrepresentation was discovered, we contacted the agency through which the individual was contracted and immediately terminated her association with our health system,” UNC Health wrote in a statement issued last year.

Going back to at least 2008, Ellis has faced at least 21 charges. The charges range from identity fraud to stealing ultrasound equipment at hospitals in and around the Triangle.

Ellis has been in and out of jail, including in 2010, when she stole thousands of dollars of ultrasound equipment from UNC Rex and WakeMed to supply her own business in Cary.

Caldwell said he’s going to have his lump reexamined.

“With any job, with any employee, there has to be a comprehensive background check, to validate stuff,” Caldwell said of his experience interacting with Ellis.

Caldwell said he’s hoping to find some comfort after an uncomfortable experience.

“How could they let this happen?” Caldwell said.