Following an inquiry that revealed her spouse had treated patients virtually through an online mental health platform while posing as her, a Florida social worker renounced her license.
A licensed clinical social worker in Ellenton, roughly 20 miles northeast of Sarasota, was Peggy A. Randolph, according to an investigative report by the Florida Department of Health and information from the online health department.
According to online records and paperwork submitted to the state’s Board of Social Worker Licensure, she also held a social work license in Tennessee.
Prior to her reporting, Randolph was employed from January 2021 to February 2023 by the online mental health platform Brightside Health. Official documents state that she conducted video conferences with hundreds of people throughout that time to deliver services.
Patient learned of impersonation following the death of the social worker’s spouse.
After Tammy G. Heath-Randolph, Randolph’s wife, passed away, she took a mourning vacation. At that point, the patient of Randolph revealed that, rather of receiving treatment from the social worker, she had received care from Randolph’s late, unlicensed wife.
A picture of the patient who reported the incident showing her conversing with Randolph’s wife during a session was given. Randolph was challenged by Brightside Health during an investigation, and the social worker denied that her wife had handled the patient.
Eventually, Randolph acknowledged that her wife, Heath-Randolph, was the one treating the patient in the picture. She claimed that Heath-Randolph’s “uncontrolled bipolar condition” may have contributed to her seeing patients behind the social worker’s back.
According to a report submitted with the Florida Department of Health, Brightside Health discovered Randolph’s wife had been treating patients for a considerable amount of time when the organization started looking into the matter.
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“This was a coordinated effort so Randolph could provide services to patients in person while (her wife) provided services over the phone,” according to the report.
Records kept in Tennessee show that Randolph received payment for the sessions her spouse attended.
“Brightside Health conducted an internal investigation and determined (Randolph) had shared her log-in credentials with (her wife),” according to the report. On February 28, 2023, Randolph was let go by Brightside Health, and she subsequently decided to retire her license.
