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CNN
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In February 2023, someone made a disturbing discovery on social media: the woman they were seeing in an online therapy session wasn’t actually a therapist.
The woman, identified in public records by the initials “TR,” was impersonating his wife, Peggy Randolph, who was a licensed clinical social worker at the time, according to a Florida Department of Health investigative report.
The report and a settlement agreement between Randolph and the state of Tennessee detailed how Randolph, who served clients in Tennessee and Florida for his employer, Brightside Health, used his own credentials to help his wife conduct online therapy sessions while he was seeing other patients in person.
But the settlement agreement between Randolph and the state of Tennessee states that “Mr. Randolph’s wife was not licensed or trained to provide counseling services of any kind.”
The couple’s “conspiracy” to defraud patients came to light while Randolph was on bereavement leave after his wife’s death, according to the documents.
CNN followed up with Online Obituary The will of Tammy Heath Randolph, age 58, lists Peggy Randolph as the deceased’s wife. Heath Randolph (TR) died on February 11, 2023, just weeks before the patient filed her complaint with Brightside.
According to the settlement agreement, Randolph denies that he “had no knowledge” that Heath Randolph was using login credentials for the Brightside Health Therapist Portal to conduct therapy sessions.
But Bright Side’s internal investigation found that Dr. Randolph had given the certification to his wife, who “had seen all of her patients for many years,” according to the Florida report.
According to the settlement agreement, Randolph also received compensation for the sessions conducted by his wife.
When shown a photograph of Heath Randolph with one of her clients, she recognized it as the client’s wife.
Bright Side Health said in a statement provided to CNN that it took “swift and decisive action” upon learning of the breach.
“We are extremely disappointed that a single physician would betray the trust that Bright Side, and more importantly, our patients, have placed in her,” the statement said.
Bright Side Health said it has paid full compensation to affected patients and that it immediately revoked Randolph’s access to its software systems and terminated his contract after being notified of the incident.
According to the settlement, Randolph worked for the company from January 2021 to February 2023 and was “directed to provide therapy sessions to hundreds of clients.” It’s unclear how many patients his wife saw during that time.
in Emailed statementBright Side spokesperson Hannah Changi told KFF Health News she couldn’t disclose how many patients Randolph’s wife saw “due to the nature of the case and the ongoing legal process.”
Randolph voluntarily surrendered his driver’s licenses in both Florida and Tennessee and was ordered in May by Tennessee to pay a $1,000 civil penalty within 12 months.
CNN has reached out to Randolph for comment.
